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1  2  3 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

THIRTY  YEARS  FROM  HOME, 


OR 


A  VOICE  FROM  THE  MALN  DECK: 


BEING 

m       THE  EXPERIENCE  OF 
SAMUEL     LEECH, 

WHO  WAS  FOR  SIX  YEARS  IN  THE  BRITISH  AND  AMER- 
ICAN  NAVIFr:  WAS   CAVTURED   IN    THE    BRITISH 
FRIGATE    MACEDONIAN:    AFTERWARDS    EN- 
TERED THE  AMERICAN  NAVY,  AND  WAS 
TAKEN    IN    THE    UNITED    STATES 
BRIG   SYREN,  BY   THE   BRIT- 
ISH   SHIP    MEDWAY. 


V 


EMBELLISHED  WITH    ENGRAVINGS. 


BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED    BY    TAPPAN    &    DENNET, 
114  Washington   Street. 

1843. 


^^"^ 


tr 

3  s^3y 


/ 


v^ 


Entered,  according  to  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1843, 

BY   SAMUEL   LEECH, 

In  the  Clerk>s  Office  of  the  Distnct  Court  of  Massachusetts. 


STEREOTYPED   BY  ~~~ " 

GEORGE   A.    CURTIS 

K.   EKai^I^D  TVPB  AND  fiXBaKOTVPB  POUNDUV     BOSTOX. 


PREFACE. 


i^Q^ 


I  HAVE  often  been  solicited,  by  my  personal 
friends,  to  commit  the  incidents  of  my  life  to 
paper.     It  was  thought  that  they  contained  suf- 
ficient interest  to  command  public  attention.     At 
any  rate,  there  is  a  novelty  in  the  fact  of  an 
unlettered  sailor's  appearance  before  the  public, 
detailing  the  secrets  of  the  naval  Main  Deck 
The  Quarter  Deck  has  long  and  often  told  its  own 
story,  and  has  given  its  own  coloring  to  naval  life. 
Here,  however,  is  a  voice  from  the  main  deck, 
revealing  life  in  a  man  of  war  as  it  appears  to 
the  sailor  himself.     As  such,  this  work  Has  some 
claim  on  the  attention  of  the  public. 

I  have  endeavored  to  state  facts  as  they  were 
when  I  was  a  sailor,  and  in  the  ships  to  which 
I  belonged.  My  object  is  to  give  a  true  picture. 
That,  I  have  done,  as  far  as  a  remarkably  strong 
memory  enabled  me.  I  kept  no  journals,  and 
consequently  some  slight  mistakes  in  names,  dates 

and  places,  may  be  found  in  my  book ;  but  I  have 
1# 


vi 


PREFACE. 


been  careful  to  state  nothino-  as  facts,  of  which  I 

was  not  certain. 

That  the  naval  service  has  improved  since  I 

belonged  to  it,  is,  I  believe,  universally  admitted. 
I  rejoice  at  it.  Still,  it  is  not  yet  what  it  should 
be.  If  this  work  should,  in  any  degree,  stir  up  the 
public  mind  to  amend  the  condition  of  seamen,  I 
shall  feel  gratified,  and  fully  repaid  for  the  labor 
of  placing  these  facts  on  record. 

With  many  prayers  that  the  perusal  of  these 
pages  may  do  good,  I  leave  the  reader  to  pursue 
his  way  along  the  track  of  my  experience  :  assur- 
ing him,  that  what  may  afford  him  pleasure  to 
read,  has  cost  me  much  pain  to  suffer. 

Samuel  Leech. 


'  which  I 

1  since  I 
idmitted. 
it  should 
ir  up  the 
eamen,  I 
he  labor 

of  these 
0  pursue 
:  assur- 
isure  to 

EECH. 


RECOMMENDATIONS. 


From  the  Hon.  Erastus  Comins. 

Albany,  December  3,  1842. 

To  WHOM  IT  MAY  CONCERN  I 

I  have  known  and  have  had  intercourse  with  Mr. 
Samuel  Leech,  for  the  last  twenty  years,  and  have 
always  found  him  honorable  in  his  dealings,  and  con- 
sider him  entitled  to  the  confidence  of  the  public  as  a 
man  of  strict  integrity. 

ERASTUS  CORNING. 


The  undersigned,  being  acquainted  with  Mr.  Samuel 
Leech,  the  author  of  the  following  work,  do  cheerfully 
vouch  for  his  moral  and  Christian  character ;  and  assure 
the  public,  that  the  interesting  volume,  which  he  here 
presents  to  the  world,  may  be  relied  upon  as  an  honest 
statement  of  facts,  with  which  the  writer  was  personally 
conversant ;  and  as  having  no  fellowship  whatever  with 
those  fictitious  tales  of  the  sea,  which,  under  the  garb 
and  professions  of  truth,  have  been  proffered  to  the 
reading  community. 

CHARLES  ADAMS, 

Principal  Wes.  Academy, 

JOHN  BOWERS, 

Pastor  Cong.  Church,  Wilbrahanit  ^ass. 
WiLBRAHAM,  May  4,  1843. 

DAVID  PATTEN, 

Pastor,  Providence,  R.  I. 

REUBEN  RANSOM, 

P.  Elder,  Springfield  Dis.  N.  E,  C. 

HENRY  CHASE, 

Preacher  to  Seamen,  N.  Y, 


i 


% 


CONTENTS 


I 
I 

4 

i 


CHAPTER    I. 

The  author's  father— An  unludcy  fall—Dying  expressions 
of  his  father— The  author's  birth-place— Change  in  his 
condition— Early  predilection  for  the  sea— An  orphan's 
fate— A  cross  aunt— A  child's  home— A  sailor  cousin- 
Visit  to  London— Removal  to  Bladen— Home— Scenery 
of  Wanstead— English  stage-coach  described— A  sleepy 
passenger— A  sailor's  frolics— Woodstock  park— Origin 
of  Blenheim  house— A  kind  father-in-law— Bladen  vil- 
lage— Its  moral  character— Lent— Bladen  feast— Dis- 
content— Advice  to  young  people— The  old  soldier's 
jnfluence— Other  influences- Visit  to  Lord  Fitzroy— . 
High  hopes— Agreeable  news— Preparation— Departure 
from  Bladen, yj 


CHAPTER    II. 

Visit  to  Wanstead-Gravesend-High  gratification-Goes 
on  board  the  Macedonian— Disappointment— The  sep- 
aration—A  man  of  war's  mess— A  disagreeable  mess- 
mate—Rough usage— Swearing— Useless  regrets— The 
Irishman's  lament— Addition  to  the  crew— Hint  to  sail- 
or boys— Internal  arrangements  of  a  ship  of  war— Top- 
men— Forecastle  men— After-guard,  waisters— Scaven- 
gers— Boys— Wardroom  oificers  and  servants— Watches 
described-Idlers-The  guns-Quarters-Duties  of  ma- 
rines-Boarders-Diiference  between  a  merchant  ship 


\ 


M  I 


*  '  CONTENTS. 

and  a  man  of  war-The  boatswain-Pipinj.  the  hands 
up  dcscnbed-The  rope's-end  argument-Anecdote  of 
iiilly  (rarvy— A  wise  determination-Bill  of  fare   m 
a  man  of  war-Grog-Wine- A  sailor's  burial-Thp 
Macedonian  gets  under  weigh-Arrival  at  Spifhead-J 
Floggmg  lor  drunkenness-Thc  scene  described- Hon- 
orable  exceptions-Mr.   Scott  and   the  marine-Two 
boys  run  away-We  take  troops  on  board  and  sail  for 
L,sbon-Sea-sickness-Land-The  Tagus-Arrival  at 
Lisbon-The   city  described-Supply  of  edibles-An 
order-A  cruise  to  Corunna-A  desertion-Our  return 
to  Lisbon-The  victim  of  jealousy-AfTray-Shocking 
sight--Change  of  officers-Increase  of  floggings-Poor 
Bob  Hammond-A  flogging  scene    -Flogging  throu-h 
the  fleer-Bad  eff^ects  of  severe  discipline-Murder  of 
a  marme-Execution-Advantage  of  mild  discipline- 
Drunkenness-Christmas  day  on  board  the  Macedonian 
—Improvemeni  among  seamen  desirable,    ...    34 


CHAPTER    III. 

An  alarm-A  bootless  cruise-Wreck-Quarrel  between 
the  captam  and  sailing-master-Its  result-Chan-e  of 
commanders-Mr.  Hope  and  the  boys-Our  men  de- 
sert-Bloody Dick-Happy  Jack-Attempted  suicide- 
A  negro  runs  away  and  is  rttaken-Good  Friday  in  Lis- 
bon-A  perplexity  on  shore-Narrow  escape  from  be- 
mg  flogged-The  press-gang-Several  An^eiicans  im- 
pressed-Another  cruise-A  terrible  stonn— Loss  of  a 
man-The  author's  sicLness-Black  Tom's  death  and 
burial-Another  bare  escape  from  flogging-Another 
change  of  commanders-Severity  of  Captain  Garden's 
admmistration-A  brutal  sentence  on  an  alleged  thief— 
A  man  flogged  through  the  fleet-Our  drummer  de- 
mands  a  court-martial-Its  unpleasant  termination- 
A  question-Danger  of  attempting  mutiny-Change  in 


CONTENTS. 


3d 


the  hands 
:iecdole  of 
>f  fare  m 
irial— The 
Spit  head — 
ed — Hon- 
ine — Two 
id  sail  for 
Vrrival  at 
bles— An 
ur  return 
Shocking 
gs— Poor 
through 
furder  of 
cipline — 
cedonian 
.    .     34 


between 
ange  of 
nen  de- 
Liicide — 
T  in  Lis- 
rom  be- 
ins  im- 
3SS  of  a 
ith  and 
Another 
arden's 
thief— 
aer  de- 
ition — 
mge  in 


P 

X:. 


my  situation— The  captain's  band— Order  for  a  new 
cruise, gQ 


CHAPTER    IV. 

A  man  overboard— A  false  alarm— Arrive  at  Madeira- 
Cruise  to  St.  MichaeFs— Birth  of  two  children-Uef.urn 
to  Lisbon— Short  cruises  why  lilved— Bob  Hammond 
m  trouble  again— Jack  Sadler  attempts  to  desert— Sad- 
ler and  Hammond  placed  in  irons- Bob's  defence- The 
Broomers— Bob  Hammond  runs  away— Rumor  of  war 
with  America-The  Macedonian  sails  with  despatehos 
to  America— Sufferings  through  ecu— Anecdote  of  a 
tyrannical  lieutenant— Reach  Hampton  lloads— Good 
fare— Refusal    to   let    the  crew  go  asliore— Reason- 
Exchange  of  courtesies  between  Captain  Carden  and 
Commodore  Decatur— The  Leopard  and   the    Chesa- 
peake—Departure   from    Virginia— At    Lisbon— The 
mail-bag— Advantage  of  a  litiic  education— Macedo- 
nian sails  for  England. gg 


CHAPTER  V. 

Delight  at  seeing  my  native  land-Plymouth-  Use  made 
of  shore-liberty  by  sailors— A  Sabbath  ashore— Good 
effects  of  temperance  illustrated-Desire  and  opportu- 
nity to  run  away— I  resolve  to  remain— A  man  of  war 
a  bad  place  for  a  boy— Licentiousness  in  port— Danger 
follows  the  sailor  everywhere— The  loss  of  the  Royal 
George— Extract  Irom  Cowper-The  Macedonian  is 
hauled  up— Repaired— Sailing  orders— A  bad  practice 
—Getting  under  weigh— Engaged  in  the  blockade  of 
Brest— Ordered  to  Plymouth— Order  countermanded— 
Unlucky  adventurers— A  prize, |^08 


f'lT 


xa 


CONTENTS, 


i 


Hi 
II 


CHAPTER    VI. 

Eumor  of  war_A  great  mislake-Departure  from  Torbay 

^  Hr'°r     """  '""'^-""'-Sabbath  at  sea-A 
sail-Haru,  ■  beat  ,o  quarters-Battle  between  the  Mace- 

l1?e  "su^rlf''  V"f "  ^•»'— ^-f"!  des.rue  ion  of 
ft^Tr^  "  "^  "'^  Macedonian-Copy  of  a  letter 


CHAPTER    VII. 

^TaTof  ttr,'''"'  ""'  ''^"^='«'  ^''^^  ">«  battle-Arri- 
botd  the  Ur  ,Tr  ""^^J-I""'  °f  onr  crew  taken  on 
,i^f  M  ^  ^  ^"^  States-Good  feeling  between  all  par- 
manX^'tr"  ■'^''f'^-M-'-g  "[  the  two  com- 
t"  the  M^  r  ^  "l"^'""'  °''  "^"  ^""^d  States  inferior 
twee^  ^/';'=f™'»«-D'fferenee  in  force  and  metal  be- 

fovor  of  LT  '^^'="^'«^-T''«  influence  of  motives  in 
favor  of  the  Americans-Arrival  at  Newport-Burial 

Visitors    at    Hurl-gale-Christmas   day-The   author 
escapes  from  the  Macedonian-Reaches  New  York 
Boards  at  a  widow's  in  the  city-Good  news    Cel7 
bration  of  Decatur's  victory-Dec'atur's  wife-llcoum' 
oMhe  fortunes  of  several  of  the  prisoners  whTran 


away, 


141 


CHAPTER    VIII. 


The  author  meets  with  his  old  shipmates-A  proposition 
--^    ..  t,eii.xO«o  oiiCT— ihe  author  becomes  a 


i 


M 


CONTENTS. 


Xlll 


)m  Torbay 
at  sea — A 
the  Mace- 
•uction  of 
)f  a  letter 
tity  office, 
.    .      122 


le — Arri- 
taken  on 
1  all  par- 
wo  com- 
5  inferior 
letal  be- 
Jtives  in 
—Burial 
shore — 

author 
\ork— 
5— Cele- 
(^^ccount 
'ho  ran 

.     141 


ition — . 
tate  of 
)mes  a 


■ 

boot-maker's  apprentice— A  pleasant  report— A  visit 
to  the  United  States  frigate— A  pleasant  discovery- 
Change  of  purpose—Quits  the  shoemaker— Is  robbed 
by  a  negro—Goes  to  Salem— Dreams— Serious  emotions 
—Revival  among  the  Baptists— A  fishing  excursion- 
Dangerous  proximity  to  a  British  brig— The  Chesa- 
peake and  Shannon— The  author  ships  in  the  gun  brig 
Syren— Her  armament,  &c.  described,     ....    166 


CHAPTER    IX. 

Plan  to  capture  the  Nimrod  defeated  by  the  wind— Orders 
to  sail  for  Africa— Leave  Boston— Voyage  to  the  Afri- 
can  coast— Death  of  the  captain— An  unpleasant  catas- 
trophe—Mr. Nicholson  assumes  the  command— The 
Grand  Turk  frightened— Trade  with  the  natives— Short 
allowance  of  water— An  enemy— Battle  of  Senegal— 
A  Yankee  trick— The  Syren  reaches  St.  Thomas— A 
prize— Another  capture— Petty  tyranny  resisted— The 
gunner's  water  keg   robbed— The    Syren  refitted  at 
Angola— She  starts  for  America— Passes  the  island 
of  Ascension— A  sail— Anecdote— Chase— The  Syren 
captured  by  the  Medway  seventy-four- Short  allow- 
ance—Landed at  Simon's  Town— A  painful  journey 
—Arrival  at  the  prison  in  Cape  Town,      ...     181 


CHAPTER    X. 

Description  of  our  prison— Rules  adopted— A  petty  annoy, 
ance  cured— A  lesson  given  to  a  Dutchman— Quality 
of  our  provisions— Dainties— Amusements— A  suicide 
—The  slaves  of  Cape  Town— Table  mountain  and  the 
Lion's  Rump— The  hospital— The  author  visits  it- 
Feigns  sickness— The  Trunk— The  surgeon's  passion, 
and  Its  consequences— A  Dutch  wedding— A  plot— Dis- 


XIV 


CONTENTS. 


covery-Rumorcd  visit  of  a  missionary-True  feelio^g 
of  seamen  on  religious  subjects-Anecdote-Mr.  Thorn's 
Zt"   t^7"'  "^eetings-Seriousness-The  author's 

to  Mr.  Thona-The  author's  alarm-Embarkation  on 
board  the  Cumberland-Voyage  to  St.  Helena-A 
transfer-A  cause  for  great  fear-An  American  ship- 
Tidings  of  the  renewal  of  the  French  war-Its  recept^^ 
by  the  officers  and  crew  of  the  Grampus-Arrival  at  Spit- 

^o l~p''"'^''  '".  '^'  P«^^^sant-Anecdote-Removed 
to  the  Rover  and  conveyed  to  Plymouth-Placed  on 
board  the  Royal  Sovereign-Transferred  to  the  Wood- 
rop  Simms— Sail  for  America— A  terrible  gale— Arrival 
at  New  York-Placed  on  board  the  Tom  Bowlin--The 
Syren's  crew  paid  off-Life  in  a  boarding-house- 
Good  resolutions  evaporate-Money  soon  expended- 
I  he  author  ships  in  the  brig  Boxer, 20I 


CHAPTER    XI. 

Landsharks  Purser's  tricks-The  Boxer-Desertions-A 
man  killed-Captain  Porter-Hardships-A  blow  on 
the  head-Saihng  orders-The  sailing-master-Tyran- 

ll^fj   rT^^"^''''^  ^^  '^'  officers-Arrival  at  Ship 
Island-Gethng  water^-Moschetos  and  gallinippers- 
Passage  to  New  Orleans_A  man  brutaHy  flogged-A 
passionate  blow-The  Boxer  hauled  up-Desenions^ 
Flogging_Return  to  Ship  Island-Work  on  Captain 
Porter's  land-A  murder-Passage  to  Tampico-Turtle 
--Privateers-An  attack-The  privateer  hauls   off- 
The  Boxer  cruises  to  various  ports-The  unlucky  hand- 
spike-Danger  to  seamen  on  the  look-out -Sea-sick^ 
of  ThTr       T'"'''"^  ^^vay-My  own  feelings-Capture 
01  the  Comet,  a  privateer-Tom  Smith,  his  philosophy 
and  punishment-Charaoier   of  our  crew-Need  of 
tnristian  labor  among  seanien-A  plan  suggested,  232 


CONTENTS. 


ue  feelings 
It.  Thorn's 
e  author's 
■  prisoners 
"kation  on 
lelena — A 
?an  ship — 
5  reception 
^al  at  Spit- 
-Removed 
Placed  on 
lie  Wood- 
— Arrival 
in  g— The 
j-house — 
pended — 
.     .  201 


XV 


tions — A 
blow  on 
-Tyran- 
1  at  Ship 
ippers — 
?ged— A 
rtions — 
Captain 
-Turtle 
Is   off— 
y hand- 
ea-sick- 
Capture 
losophy 
eed  of 
;d,  232 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Homeward  passage— Story  telling— Their  moral  effect— 

The  author  threatened  with  a  flogging— Smugo-lin«- 

Arrival  at  New  York— My  disconfen't— Escape  from 
the  Boxer— Journey  to  Hartford— Distress— The  hos- 
pitable Presbyterian— Deacon  Cook— Woman's  kind- 
ness—A fortunate  discovery  of  an  old  shipmate— A 
situation— The  author  at  work  on  a  farm— Anecdote— 
The  funeral— Its  moral  effects- Seriousness— A  prayer- 
meeting— Profession  of  religion— A  period  of  backslid- 
ing—Recovery—A camp-meeting— Father  Taylor— 
The  parting  scene— Author  joins  the  Methodist  church 
—The  crew  of  the  Macedonian— John  Wiskey— Hutch- 
inson—James  Day,      256 

CHAPTER   XIII. 

Home  feelings— Correspondence  with  home— Letter  from 
my  mother— Fear  of  apprehension  leads  me  to  decline 
gomg  to  her— My  father-in-law's  death— A  new  business 
—Another  change— Rum-selling— Convictions  on  the 
subject— The  temperance  lecture— My  marriage— 
Rum-selling  given  up— Removal  to  Wilbraham— Pros- 
perity-A  visit  to  the  Macedonian_An  exhortation  to 
her  crew— Home  correspondence— I^rd  Churchill's 
note— Dr.  Fisk's  visit  to  my  mother— A  mother's 
present— Resolution  to  visit  England— Preparations,  275 

CHAPTER   XIV. 

Departure  from  home-A  cabin  in  the  George  Washington 
—Cheated  by^the  cook— T!  -  packet  sails— A  day's  expe- 
rience from  my  journal— Religious  service  on  Sabbath 
—Arrival  at  Liverpool— The  custom-house,  Liverpool 


XVI 


CONTENTS. 


-Journey  to  Stafford-The  hackmen-Meeting  with 
my  sister— Election    day   in    Stafford-Stafford-Re- 
mains  of  a  baronial  castle—St.  Mary's  church— The 
poor-house-A  good  custom-Beggars  and  poverty- 
Drunkenness-Beer,  a  hindrance  to  the  temperance 
cause-Departure  from  Stafford- Arrival  at  Bladen- 
iMeeting  with  my  mother--A   happy  family  party- 
Visit  to  Oxford-Description  of  the  town-Great  Tom- 
Mr.  Wesley's  room  at  college-The  martyr's  stones- 
Departure  from  Bladen-Arrival  at  London-Trip  to 
Walthamstow  and  Wanstead-A  visit  to  the  citv  road 

nnHw":.'^''"'n^5-^^''^'^'   ^^"^^^^'  ^^^^°^'   ^^^Y^^, 
and  Watts-Co^dition  of  the  English  poor-Taxation-! 

±.xpenses   of  royalty-Departure    for    Boston— Lon? 

passage-Safe  arrival-Closing  remarks  to  the  reader 

—Note— My  mother's  death, 287 


i!  ' 


ii: 


ietmg  with 
ifford— Re- 
lurch — The 
poverty — 
emperance 
t  Bladen— 
ly  party- 
eat  Tom — 
s  stones — 
1 — Trip  to 
J  city  road 
»  Bunyan, 
^axation — 
on — Long 
;he  reader 
.    .    287 


VOICE  FROM  THE  MAIN  DECK. 


CHAPTER  I. 

T!he  author's  father— An  unlucky  fall— Dying  expressions 
of  his  father— The  author's  birth-place— Change  in  his 
condition— Early  predilection  for  the  sea— An  orphan's 
fate— A  cross  aunt— A  chilrl's  home— A  sailor  cousin — 
Visit  to  London— Removal  to  Bladen— Home— Scenery 
of  "Wanstead— English  stage-coach  described — A  sleepy 
passenger— A  sailor's  frolics— Woodstock  park— Origin 
of  Blenheim  house— A  kind  father-in-law— Bladen  vil- 
lage—Its moral  character— Lcit— Bladen  feast— Dis- 
content—Advice  to  young  people— The  old  soldier's 

influence — Other  influences — Visit  to  Lord  Fitzroy 

*  High  hopes— Agreeable  news— Preparation— Departure 
from  Bladen. 

Were  it  not  that  the  most  common  of  all  inqui- 
ries, respecting  every  man  who  comes  before  the 
public,  is,  "  who  is  he  ?  whence  did  he  proceed  ? 
who  were  his  parents?"  &c.,  I  would  not  detain 
the  reader  with  any  account  of  my  humble  ances- 
tors and  their  circumstances.  But,  since  men 
naturally  expect  this  information,  and  would  hence 
cc  >.?ider  my  narrative  imperfect  without  it,  I  shall 
take  the  liberty  to  introduce  them. 

My  lather's   occupation  was  that  of  valet  de 

ckambre  to  Lord  William  Fitzroy,  son  of  the  Duke 
2# 


18 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE   MAIN  DECK. 


Ill: 


Of  Grafton.     My  recollections  concerning  him  are 
few  and  indistinct,  as  he  died  while  I  was  vet 
scarcely  three  years  old.    One  little  incident  alone 
reminds  me  of  wearing  a  mourning  dress  as  a 
memento  of  sorrow  for  his  death.   Returning  from 
he  parish  church  in  Walthamstow,  I  obterved 
the  larger  boys  amusing  themselves  by  swino-ing 
across   the  rails  of  the  fences ;    endeavoring  tf 
join  m  their  amusement,  my  hands  slipped,  and 
faUmg  into  a  muddy  ditch,  I  nearly  finished  my 
course,  ere  it  was  well  begun,  by  a  violent  death! 
A  benevolent  stranger,  however,  rescued  me,  and 
once  safe   my  grief  for  the  sad  condition  of  my 
little  black  frock  was  excessive  and  inconsolable. 
A  trifling  cause  for  sorrow,  to  be  sure,  yet  men 
and  women  often  grieve  for  causes  equally  con- 
temptible.  •' 

Although  my  personal   remembrances  of  my 

fathers  death  are  so  indistinct,  yet  the  frequent 

mention  made  of  him  by  my  mother,  has  left  the 

pleasing  impression  on  my  mind  that  he  died  a 

Christian     "  I  have  thought  of  my  numerous  sins, 

but  God  has  forgiven  them  all.     Be  not  troubled, 

for  the  Lord  will  provide  for  you  and  your  chil' 

dren     You  need  not  fear  to  leave  me,  for  I  am 

not  alone;  God  is  with  me,  though  you  are  out  of 

the  room,"  were  among  his  dying  expressions: 

when,  after  fourteen  months'  endurance   of  the 

pains  which  accompany  a  slow  consumption,  he 

approached  "  that  bourne  frnm  ivhic*.  ro  ' — -"-, 

returns.      I  expect  to  find  my  honored  father  in 
heaven. 


tl 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


19 


^  him  are 
I  was  yet 
lent  alone 
ress  as  a 
ling-  from 
observed 
swinging 
'oring  to 
ped,  and 
shed  my 
It  death, 
me,  and 
1  of  my 
isolable. 
^et  men 
lly  con- 

of  my 
requent 
left  the 

died  a 

us  sins, 

oubled, 

IT  chil- 

•  I  am 

out  of 

5sions ; 

of  the 

on,  he 
,,,-.11 

her  in 


Wanstead,  in  Essex,  about  seven  miles  from  the 
great  metropolis  of  England,  was  the  town,  and 
1798  the  year,  of  my  birth.  Were  it  necessary  to 
designate  the  place  more  particularly,  it  might  be 
said  that  the  part  of  Wanstead  where  I  first  strug- 
gled into  being,  was  called  Nightingale  Place ;  a 
most  musical  name,  conferred  in  honor  of  the 
nightingales  which  abounded  in  the  vicinity. 

Two  years  subsequently  to  my  father's  demise, 
my  mother  became  an  inmate  of  the  family  of 
Lady  Francis  Spencer,  daughter  of  the  Duke  of 
Grafton,  and  wife  of  Lord  Spencer.  As  a  conse- 
quence of  this  event,  I  was  deprived  of  a  mother's 
care  and  consigned  to  the  charge  of  my  aunt 
Turner,  whose  family  amounted  to  the  very  re- 
spectable number  of  twenty-two  sons  and  two 
daughters. 

The  transfer  of  a  child  from  the  care  of  its  pa- 
rent to  that  of  another  person,  may  appear,  at  first 
sight,   to   be   a  very  unimportant  incident;    but 
trifling  as  it  seems,  it  often  exerts  an  influence 
which  very  materially  changes  the  destiny  of  the 
child  :  it  was  so  in  my  case.    Most  of  my  cousins 
were  sailors,  and  some  of  them  were  constantly 
returning  home,  bringing,  with  true  sailors'  munifi- 
cence, the  pleasing  and  curious  productions  of 
distant  climes  as  presents  to  their  parents  and 
friends ;  then,  seated  round  the  bright  hearth-side, 
they  used  to   tell  of  wild  adventures  and  hair- 
breadth escapes,  spinning  out  the  winter  evening*s 
tale  to  the  infinite  delight  of  their  willing  listeners. 


20 


!■ 


w 


iii 


ill! 


A   VOICE    PROM   THE   MAIN   DECK. 


W I 


Poor  fellows!  three  of  them  died  at  sea;  two  more, 
John  and  Richard,  perished  in  the  ill-fated  Blen- 
heim a  seventy-four  gun  ship  of  the  British  navy, 
which  went  down  off  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  with 
seven  hundred  as  brave  men  on  board  as  ever  trod 
a  plank.    Notwithstanding  these  sad  recollections, 
and  though  none  perceived  it,  my  three  years'  res- 
idence   among  these  "  sailors   bold"  decided  the 
nature  of  my  future  calling;  it  captivated  my  im- 
agination and  begat  a  curiosity,  which  ultimately 
ted  me  to  make  my  "home  upon  the  bounding 

An  orphan  is  ever  exposed  to  changes.     The 
loss  of  either  parent  calls  for  a  degree  of  sympathy 
and  kindness  from  others,  which  they  are  rarely 
willing  to  expend  except  on  their  own.     Such  is 
Jie  almost  universal  selfishness  of  human  nature. 
My  experience  affords  a  verification  of  the  truth- 
fulness  of  the  remark.     For  some  cause  or  other, 
It  became  inconvenient  for  me  to  remain  with  my 
kind  aunt  Turner,  and  my  next  home  was  with  a 
widowed   aunt,  at   Wanstead.  where   I  did  not 
meet  with  the  same  kindness  of  treatment.     The 
breaking  of  a  cup,  or  any  of  the  thousand-and-one 
ofiences  found  in  the  list  of  juvenile  defects,  was 
sure  to  bring  upon  me  the  infliction  of  the  rod- 
and,  what  was  equally  painful,  my  most  economi 
cal  aunt  exacted  the  full  payment  for  all  th^se 
losses  from  the  little  pocket  money  I  obtaLd  by 
holding  a  horse,  running  errands,  or  as  npw.„=„. 
and  Uhnstmas  presents ;  thus  gratifying  her  tern- 


CK. 

.;  two  more, 
■fated  Blen- 
ritish  navy, 

Hope,  with 
as  ever  trod 
^collections, 
!  years'  res- 
'ecided  the 
ted  my  im- 

ultimately 
;  boundinof 

ges.  The 
sympathy 
are  rarely 

Such  is 
an  nature, 
the  truth- 
3  or  other, 
1  with  my 
'■as  with  a 

did  not 
nt.  The 
d-and-one 
feels,  was 
the  rod; 
economi- 
all  these 
ained  by 

her  tem- 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


21 


per  and  her  covetousness  at  once,  besides  embit- 
tering, to  some  extent,  the  boyish  hours  of  my 
unfortunate  self. 

There  is  no  evil  in  the  management  of  children 
to  be  more  deprecated  than  that  species  of  treat- 
ment  which   tends   to    destroy   their   happiness. 
Correction  for  obvious  faults,  in  a  proper  manner, 
is  essential  to  their  proper  moral  training ;  but  a 
habit  of  incessantly  scolding  them  for  every  little 
accident   or   offence,   only   serves   to    excite   the 
11         growth  of  evil  passions  and  to  make  them  dislike 
'         their  home;    things  to  be  avoided  as   much  as 
Scylla   and   Charybdis   by  the  careful   mariner. 
The  influence  of  such  mal-treatment  follows  the 
child  through  life,  like  an  evil  genius,  materially 
affecting  his  views  of  life  and  the  temper  of  his 
mind.     For  aught  that  now  occurs  to  me,  but  for 
this  unkindness,  my  early  predilection  for  the  sea 
would  have  died  within  me ;   while,  as  it  was,  I 
panted  to  enjoy  the  freedom  my  fancy  painted  in 
its  pictures  of  sailor  life.     To  add  to  my  sorrows, 
lily  mother  removed  my  sister,  who  had  been  my 
cheerful  companion  and  true  friend,  to  a  lady's 
school  at  Woodstock,  in  Oxfordshire,  for  the  two- 
fold  purpose   of    affording   her    greater   literary 
advantages,  and  of  being  able  to  see  her  more 
frequently. 

Several  incidents  occurred  during  my  abode 
here,  which  tended  to  increase  my  growing  desire. 
A  smart,  active  sailor,  over  six  feet  in  height  and 
well  pronortioned,  one  day  presented  himself  at 


22 


A   VOICE    PROM  THE   MAIN   DECK. 


» 


my  aunt's  door     He   told  us  he  had  been  to 

Ueorge  Turner,  who  was  her  nephew  and  my 
cousm  He  proceeded  to  tell  many  fine  storiel 
about  him  and  at  last  inquired  if  she  should  not 
like  to  see  him,  and  if  she  should  know  him. 

X  don  t  know  as  I  shoul-:,"  said  my  aunt,  "  he 
iia?  been  away  so  lono-." 

ner'.^'"'  "^'"■"  ^^P''^^  ^e,  "I  am  George  Tur- 

This  fine,  bold  seaman,  then,  was  my  own 
cousin,  son  to  my  aunt  Turner;  he  had  been  eleven 
years  at  sea,  and,  after  visiting  his  parents,  took 
this  method  of  surprising  his  aunt.  Most  likely 
he  has  made  this  adventure  the  subject  of  many  a 
forecastle  yarn  since  then.  While  he  remained 
he  was  so  jolly,  so  liberal,  and  so  full  of  pleasant 
stories,  that  I  began  to  feel  quite  sure  that  sailors 
were  noble  fellows. 

We  were  also  favored  with  a  visit  from  an 
uncle,  then  visiting  Europe  from  the  West  Indies 
He  was  one  of  two  brothers,  who  were  educated 
at  Greenwich  for  the  navy.     One  of  them  had 
entered  the  British  navy,  and  by  dint  of  merit  and 
hard  service  rose  to  the  possession  of  a  commis- 
^on  in  the  service,  but  ultimately  perished  at  .ea. 
IJiis  one  had  chosen  the  merchant  service,  but 
afterwards  settled  at  Antigua.     He  took  me  with 
nira  to  London,  and  carried  me  over  the  West 
India  docks;  he  being  well  acquainted  with  many 
01  the  captains,  they  treated  me  with  playful  atten- 


fi. 

d  been  to 
lan  named 
V  and  my 
ine  stories 
should  not 
him. 
aunt,  "  he 

3rge  Tur- 
in y  own 
en  eleven 
ents,  took 
3st  likely 
f  many  a 
remained 
pleasant 
at  sailors 

from  an 
5t  Indies, 
educated 
lem  had 
lerit  and 
commis- 
1  at  sea. 
^ice,  but 
me  with 
le  West 
h  many 
il  atten- 


SIX    YEARS    IN   A   MAN   OF    WAR. 


23 


tion,  inquirino-  if  I  did  not  wish  to  be  a  cabin-boy 
and  the  like.     When  I  returned  to  Wanstead,  it 
was  with  a  stronger  desire  than  ever  to   be  a 
sailor.      My  uncle  went  to  Trinidad,  and  died 
shortly  after. 

A  very  pleasant  piece  of  intelligence  greeted 
me  soon  after  these  incidents ;  it  was  nothing  less 
than  my  removal   from   the  care  of  my  unkind 
aunt  to  the  roof  of  m,    mother.     Weary  of  her 
widowhood,  she  had  again  become  a  wife.     My 
new   parent   was   a   widower   with   one  son  •    a 
carpenter   by  occupation,  in    the   employ  of  \he 
Duke  of  Marlborough.     Great  was  my  joy  when 
this  fact  was  communicated  to  my  young  mind    I 
hailed  it  as  a  deliverance  from  bondage,  and  with 
beaming  eyes  and  cheerful  face  hurried  to  bid 
adieu  to  my  classmates  in  the  day  and  in  the 
Sunday  school-a  sad  proof  of  the  unfitness  of 
my  aunt  for  her  task ;  since  a  child  properly  treated, 
will  love  Its  ho7ne  too  well  to  quit  it  without  a 
tear ;  and  if  parents  and  guardians  wish  to  pre- 
vent  their   children    from   being   wanderers  and 
stragglers  through  the  wide  world,  let  me   bid 
them  exert  the  utmost  effort  to  make  their  home 
pleasant.     Throw  a  charm  round  it,  make  it  en- 
chanted ground,  cause  it  to  become,  in  the  lan- 
guage of  a  living  poet, 

'^  The  fairy  ring  of  bliss ; 

and  then  your  children  will  love  it  too  we'i  to 
wander. 


24 


A    VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


i 


But  r  was  now  about  to  leave  Wanstcad,  and, 
although  delighted  to  be  rid  of  the  surveilance  of 
a   cross   old    relation,    there   were    some   thino-s 
which  threw  an  air  of  sadness  occasionally  over 
my  mind.     There  were  many  pleasant  associa- 
tions connected  with  the  place;  its  beautiful  park, 
with  herds  of  timid  deer  grazing  under  its  tall 
oaks,  upon  whose  green  old  heads  the  sun  had 
shone  for  centuries;  the  venerable  mansion,  seated 
like  a  queen  amid  the  sylvan  scene;  the  old  parish 
church,  with  its  gorgeously  painted  windows,  to 
which  I  had  often  walked  on  the  Sabbath  with 
my  fellow-scholars  iu   the   Sabbath    school,   and 
beside  whose  deep-toned  organ  I  had  sat  listening 
to  the  learned  priest ;  the  annual  hunt  at  Easter, 
m  which  I  had  often  joined  the  crew  of  idle  lads 
that  gave  chase  to  the  distracted  deer;  and  the 
pleasant  walks,  made  cheerful  by  the  songs  of 
mnumerable  birds,  in  Epping  forest,  were  alHo  be 
left— perhaps   forever.      This   thought  made  me 
somewhat  sad,  but  it  was  swallowed  up  in  the  joy 
I  felt  when  my  mother  appeared  to  conduct  me  to 
Bladen,  some  sixty  miles  from  London,  which 
was  the  place  of  her  ujode  since  her  marriage. 

Behold  me  then,  gentle  leader,  seated  with  my 
mother  on  the  outside  of  a  stage-coach,  with  some 
ten  fellow-passengers.  The  stage-coach  of  Eng- 
land  is  quite  a  different  vehicle  from  the  carriao-e 
known  by  that  name  in  America.  True,  it  is 
drawn  by  four  horses,  and  it  runs  on  four  wheels, 
but  here  the  likeness  ends ;  instead  of  being  built 


1! 


istead,  and, 
^^eilance  of 
me    thinffs 
)nally  over 
It  associa- 
itiful  park, 
ler  its  tall 
3  Sim  had 
ion,  seated 
old  parish 
indovvs,  to 
»bath  with 
hool,   and 
t  listening" 
at  Easter, 
'  idle  lads 
;  and  the 
songs  of 
3  all  to  be 
made  me 
in  the  joy 
uct  me  to 
n,  which 
'riage. 
with  my 
^ith  some 
of  Eng- 
carriage 
ue,  it  is 
•  wheels, 
ing  built 


SIX   YEARS    IN   A    MAN   OF   WAR. 


25 


to  carry  twelve  persons  inside,  it  carries  but  six, 
while  outside  it  has  seats  for  twelve.  Three  or 
four  passengers  ride  very  comfortably  behind,  in 
what  is  called  the  basket,  which  is  the  territory 
of  the  gup.rd,  as  the  boot  before  is  of  the  coach- 
man.  All  mail  coaches,  and  all  others  travelling 
in  the  night,  carry  a  guard,  or  an  armed  man,  for 
the  purpose  of  protecting  the  coach  from  the 
attacks  of  footpads  or  highway  robbers. 

The  dulness  of  our  journey  was  somewhat  re- 
lieved, after  a  long  season  of  silence,  by  the  dis- 
tress of  an  unfortunate  passenger,  who,  falling 
asleep,  nodded  so  violently,  that  his  hat,  supposing 
It  was  receiving  notice  to  quit,  very  unceremo"^ 
niously  took  leave  of  the  skull  it  covered,  and 
plunged  into  the  mud.  The  outcry  of  the  poor 
passenger,  who  was  soon  waked  by  the  wind 
sporting  amid  his  hair,  and  his  unavailing  requests 
to  stop  the  ^tage  put  us  all  into  good  humor  with 
ou'-selves  and  with  each  other. 

We  had  another  source  of  relief  in  the  antics 
of  a  wild,  hairbrained  sailor.  From  spinning 
yarns,  which  looked  amazingly  like  new  invent 
tions,  he  would  take  to  dancing  on  the  roof  of  the 
coach ;  at  the  foot  of  a  hill  he  would  leap  off,  and 
then  sprimr  up  again  with  the  agility  of  a  monkey, 
to  the  no  small  amusement  of  the  passengers. 
The  more  I  saw  of  this  reckless,  thoughtless  tar, 
the  more  enamored  I  became  with  the  idea  of  a 
sea  life ;  and  thus  this  journey  to  my  mother's 
new  abode  was  another  link  in  the  chain  that  de- 


26 

cidcd 


A    VOICK    FROM    THE   MAIN    DKCK. 


my  futurod.'sfiny  in  ihr,  drama  of  lifo.  How 
st.nin,<r,.|y  juid   iiiijK.ra.ptil.ly  ,|„  „„.,|i  ,,,,^.„^^  ^^.^^^j 
to  inuvv|)(M-t,>d  n.si.jts.     A  maich  may  firo  a  city 
and  lay  desolate  the  work  of  aq-ps ;  a  siricrh,  leak 
may  sink  a  hark  and  carry  dosolation  to'^a  hun- 
dred  firos.dos— and  tri/los  in  th(>  dailv  scenes  of 
himian  life,   irive   character  to   our    iiunortality. 
Wc    cannot,    therefore',   too    carefully   watch    I  he 
influence   of  small    ('vent.s,  especially  on    vounir 
minds.  *^       ^ 

At  Woodstock,  famed  in  the  annals  of  Eno-land 
as  the  scene  of  the  loves  of  Kin-  Henry  ancfRos- 
amond  Cliflhrd,  we  quitted  our  staire  companions, 
and    proceeded    on    foot    to    BladcMi,    two   miles 
distant.       Our   road    lay    throu-h    Blenheim    or 
Woodstock  park,  which  wo  entered  throujrh  the 
triumphal  arch,  a  spacious  portal,  erected  ""to  the 
memory  of  John,  Duke  of  Marlborouirh,  by  Sarah, 
his  duchess.      On  enterino-   the   park,   which  ij 
nearly    twelve    miles    in    circumference,    one    of 
the  most  beautiful  prospects  imao-inable  disclosed 
Itself.      Blenheim    Palace,   which  is  amornr   the 
most  magniticent  piles  of  architecture  in  Enr'land 
appeared  in  front ;  on  the  left  were  to  be  s"'een  a 
part  of  the  village  of  Woodstock,  and  on  the  ri-ht 
a  broad  and  spacious  lake,  crossed  by  a  superb 
bridge;^   a  lofty  column  on  the  risinir  jrround 
erected  in  honor  of  John,  Duke  of  JVIarlborou-h, 

*Neai'  this  bridge  is  a  spring,  called  Rosamond's  Well 
_  1^  a.  lo  O.MU  lu  iKive  conirivca  a  labvrinth.  bv 

which  his  guilty  fair  one  communicated  with  the  castle. 


f 


I 


c. 

life.  How 
vents  itmd 
lire  a  city 
infrl(!  leak 
to  a  liun- 
sccuos  of 
snortality. 
tatch  the 
)n   young 

England 
and  Ros- 
iipanions, 
vo  miles 
iheim  or 
3ugh  the 
id  to  the 
y  Sarah, 
.vhich  is 

one  of 
lisclosed 
ong  the 
i^ngland, 
}  seen  a 
he  right 

superb 
ground, 
orough, 

i's  Well, 
rinth,  by 
castle. 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


27 


on  which  is  the  statue  of  that  noble  warrior;  a 
delightful  valley,  hills,  plantations,  herds  of  deer 
feeding,  shady  groves  and  ancient  trees,  all  con- 
spired to  render  the  scene  enchantingly  beautiful. 

iilenheim  Palace,  or  Castle,  was  built  at  the 
public  expense,  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne,  and 
was  given,  with  its  annexed  demesnes,  in  concur- 
rence with  the  voice  of  parliament,  to  John,  Duke 
of  Marlborough,  as  a  testimony  of  royal  favor  and 
nati(mal  gratitude  for  his  successes  over  the  French 
and  Bavarians  ,  particularly  for  his  victory  at 
Blenheim,  on  the  banks  of  the  Danube,  on  the 
2d  of  August,  1704. 

Crossing  the  park  towards  Bladen,  Ave  were 
met  by  my  father-in-law,  who  received  me  with  a 
kindness  which  prepossessed  me  at  once  in  his 
favor ;  he  conducted  us  home,  where,  to  my  no 
small  gratification,  I  met  my  sister. 

My  father-in-law  appeared  to  be  in  comfortable 
circumstances.  He  resided  in  a  very  neat  house, 
built  of  stone,  shaded  by  a  noble  apricot  tree,  and 
ornamented  with  a  small  but  pretty  garden.  This, 
together  with  another  similar  tenement,  was  his 
own  property.  To  add  to  my  satisfaction,  I  per- 
ceived that  he  was  very  kind  to  my  mother,  and 
also  to  myself.  She  one  day  expressed  a  desire 
to  have  the  cold  stone  floor  of  the  kitchen  removed, 
and  boarded  instead ;  my  father,  at  considerable 
expense,  gratified  her  wish ;  this  assured  me  of 
his  regard  for  her  comfort. 

With   the   village   itself,  I   was   equally  well 


I 


98 


!il 


l(  ! 


4   VOICE    PROM   THE   MAIN   DECK. 


horn  hedges;  and  old  farm-houses,  wkh  thel' 
thatched  roofs,  and  massive  wheat  rickTl   I 
pleased  eye  on  all  sides ;  while  cuhi  S  Z    n! 
and  numerous  wild  flowers,  especially  the  modes 
cowshp  and  humble  violet,  scented'he  aTr  and 
perfumed  the  breeze.     Thus  far,  perhans  R  J 

oat/i  school  was  not  thprp       p«  f 

Sabbath  was  spent  in  1    '      ^°^'"^"^"%'  the 
wa&  bpent  m  roaming-  about  thp  fioi^c.  • 

amusements,  in  yisitino-  in  t.t  •       ^'  ^" 

place  called  HZ  a  ^'""  excursions  to  a 

Place  called  Ramsden,  some  seven  miles  distant 

Tue  there  was  .  parish  church,  with  two  cW 

men  belonging  to  its  altars,  but  there  was  sTrvke 

Sin?L  Tl  ^""'^^  ^^^^^-  '^^  anciemTal 
inuring  Lent,  however,  both  priests  and  Zl'i' 

were  more  relio-ious  •   ih.    \.  P^°P^® 

tended-  thp  !ifi  '^"''^'  ^''^^  better  at- 

wll;v-^'/^/^^^?"  "^^^  -^--ed  as  to  their 


.l„j--  .,.  .,       :     ".""  c-vcuiiiea  as  to  their 
-"go  oi  me  cliurch  catechism !    They  were 


I 
I 


ises,  it  was 
with   large 

hill-sides; 
^rant  haw- 
with  their 
^s,  met  the 
ed  gardens 
the  modest 
le  air  and 
ps,  Bladen 
t  aspects  it 
rd  for  the 
'ulture  of 
at  blessed 
ewed  the 
orous  pul- 
'ome  pro- 
ts,  which 

the  tall 
ing  Sab- 
ntly,  the 
fields,  in 
ions  to  a 

distant. 
5  clergy- 
3  service 
^t  walls. 
I  people 
etter  at- 
to  their 
ey  were 


SIX   YEARS   IN    A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


29 


even  excited  to  diligence  in  committing  it  to 
memory  by  the  inducement  of  reward.  A  Bible 
and  two  prayer  books  were  given  to  the  lads  who 
excelled  in  answering  the  questions.  At  the  first 
Lent  examination  after  my  coming  to  Bladen,  the 
Bible,  the  highest  prize,  was  awarded  to  me,  and 
the  second  year  the  minister  assigned  me  the  task 
of  hearing  the  others  recite — a  striking  proof  of 
the  benefit  of  Sunday  school  instruction ;  it  gave 
me  both  a  moral  and  mental  superiority  over  all 
my  compeers  in  the  little  village  of  Bladen.  This 
special  attention  to  religion  only  lasted  durinr:  the 
term  of  Lent ;  when,  with  a  return  to  the  uso  of 
meat,  the  people  returned  to  the  neglect  of  the 
Sabbath. 

The  inhabitants  of  Bladen  were  very  social  in 
their  habits.  They  held  an  annual  feast,  called 
Bladen  feast,  to  which  they  invited  their  ^rietuds 
from  other  towns ;  it  commenced  on  Sabbath  and 
continued  three  days.  Eating,  drinking,  talking, 
fortune-telling,  gambling,  occupied  three  days  of 
wassail  and  jollity;  after  which  the  visitors  re- 
turned to  their  respective  towns,  and  the  people  to 
their  occupations.  The  neighboring  villages  gave 
similar  feasts  in  their  turn.  They  were  occasions 
of  much  evil  and  folly. 

My  time  flew  very  rapidly  and  pleasantly  away 
for  two  or  three  years,  until,  like  most  children, 
I  began  to  sigh  for  deliverance  from  the  restraints 
vi  xiv^iiic.  X  nau.  iiueauy  leii  scnooi,  ana  lor  some 
time,  being  now  about  thirteen  vears  of  age,  had 
3=^ 


* 


ii'  f  i 


^0 


^   VOICE   EROU   THE   MAIN   DECK. 


been  employed  in  the  pleasure-grounds  of  Rl.n 
heim  Palace.     This,  however   ZTi       I 

business  for  a  lad  of  my  sSs     TLT    T.  ^ 
of  the  sea  from  m.. ..  -^.^ P'"^^'     ^  bad  heard  tales 

my  mind  w  Z]?/     ?•"'  ^^^  "^^^^^^  ^^d  filled 
0'  """«  wim  the  exp  oits  of  mv  o-rinrlf^fi, 

imagination  painted  a  life  1  fu^  ^'' '' ""^ 

the  most  glowin"  eolor,    '  *"'  ^^^''^  ''^<=P  '» 

every  dav  mlltv  '  ^  """''  8''"^^  ""«asy; 

goin.  to  sea   inH     ,71  ';''""»™"y  '='1^"^ about 

'«.'  4  E -r^hf .  -  :r  •  r  ■ 

hnf  or.  sjmsliine,  all  sweets,  a  1  flowers 

the  wishes  of  theirnaZs    wP  '"''' ."''^y'"^ 

;he.best,oodathe^n:;;£rr5t:; 

.  *^y  Pf  ^'°n  for  a  seaman's  life  was  not  •,  lit.Io 
increased  by  a  soldier,  who  was  servant  to  a 
company  ,n  Lord  Francs  Snencer'.^- !!„?.? 
cavauy.     Seated  by  my  father'.  hearthrsld^'lhTs 


ds  of  Blen- 
too  tame  a 
heard  tales 
T  had  filled 
ifather;  my 
!at  deep  in 
•w  uneasy ; 
3  more  and 
!king  about 
If  unhappy 

of  the  dif- 
ent's  roof 
3uble  they 
the  world, 
t.      They 
fancy  the 
1  flowers, 
ed,  when 
^cy.     Let 
to  escape 
uietly  at 
5  obeying 
^ly  have 
ley  may 
'  what  is 

t  a  little 
int  to  a 

tiAv;xXfc   Oi 

ide,  this 


SIX    YEARS    IN    A    WAN    OF    WAR. 


31 


old  soldier,  who  had  once  been  a  sailor,  would 
beguile  many  an  evening  hour  with  his  endless 
tale,  while  I  sat  listening  in  enrapt  attention. 
My  mother,  too,  heedlessly  fanned  the  flame  by 
her  descriptions  of  the  noble  appearance  of  the 
ships  she  had  seen  when  at  Brighton.  Besides 
this,  a  footman  at  Blenheim  House  used  to  sing  a 
song  called  "the  poor  little  sailor  boy;"  which, 
although  somewhat  gloomy  in  its  descriptions,' 
only  served  to  heighten  the  flame  of  desire  within 
me,  until  I  could  think  of  nothing  else,  day  or 
night,  but  of  going  to  sea. 

Finding  my  desires  so  strong,  my  kind-hearted 
mother  mentioned  them  to  Lady  Spencer.     Just 
at  that  time,  her  brother.  Lord  William  Fitzroy, 
who  was  then  expecting  the  command  of  a  frin-ate, 
and  with  whom  my  departed  father  had  live°d  as 
valet,  happened  to  visit  Blenheim,  previously  to 
going  to  sea.     Anxious  to  serve  my  mother,  Lady 
Spencer  mentioned  me  to  Lord  Fitzroy.     He  sent 
for  me.     Trembling  in  every  joint,  I  was  ushered 
into  his  presence.     He  inquired  if  I  should  like  to 
go  to  sea.      "  Yes,  my  lord,  I  should,"  was  my 
ready  answer.     He  dismissed  me,  after  some  fur- 
ther questionings ;  but  was  heard  to  say,  before  he 
left,  that  he  would  take  me  under  his  care,  and 
see  to  my  future  advancement. 

These  dazzling  prospects  not  only  well  nigh 
turned  my  brain,^but  decided  my  parents  to  send 
me  to  sea.  To  have  their  son  an  officer  in  the 
navy  wa.^ an  unlooked-for  honor;  and  they  now 


32 


iiiii: 


VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


entered  mto  my  plans  and  feeli 


much   ardor 


as   myself.     Alas!      We 


gs  with  almo:,t  as 


were   all 


J  1  •'  ^•'**     -t^iaa ;       vv  e   were   all 

doomed  to  learn  how  little  confidence   can  be 
placed  m  the  promises  of  nobles  • 

Not  long  after  Lord  Fitzroy's  departure,  we 
received  a  letter  stating  the  fact  of  his  Appointment 
to  his  majesty's  fr.gate  Macedonian,  which,  being 
out  of  dock,  was  rapidly  preparing  for  sea.     This 
intelligence  was  the  signal  for  bustle,  excitement, 
preparation,  and  I  know  not  what.     Friends  and 
gossips  constantly  crowded  in  to  administer  their 
gratuitous  advice ;  some  predicting,  to  my  infinite 
dehght,  that  certainly  so  smart  a  boy  would  make 
a  great  man;   others  wore  very  grave  counte- 
nances, and  gave  certain  expressive  shrugs  of  the 

feel*  Jr'f  r    ''  '^'^  '"'-^  '^  ""^S-'-g  *^°»?h  the 

J  wn  /  u^  "  f''^  "P  "  ^°'  ™^^«'V  ^  look  or 
a  word;  in  short,  but  for  a  strong  eviction  in 

my  own  breast  that  this  was  all  sai.  .or  effect,  it 
IS  doubtful  whether  they  would  not  have  sue 
ceeded  in  deterring  me  from  my  purpose. 

At  last,  after  much  ado,  the  long-expected  day 
arrived  when  I  was  to  bid  farewell  to  home  and 
friends,  to  venture  abroad  upon  an  unknown  future. 
It  would  only  vex  the  reader  by  its  common-place 
character,  or  I  would  reveal  all  the  nice  little  acts 

which  took  place.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  my  part- 
ing  was  very  much  the  same  as  that  of  all  other 
boys  of  twelve,  when  they  leave  home  for  fC^Z 
t.me-a  mixture  of  hopes  and  fears,  of  "teais  ;tod 
smiles,  of  sunshine  and  cloud.  ^ 


I 


h  almo^jt  as 
e  were  all 
ice   can  be 

>arture,  we 
ppointment 
hich,  being 
sea.     This 
excitement, 
riends  and 
lister  their 
ny  infinite 
ould  make 
^e  counte- 
ugs  of  the 
trough  the 
T  a  look  or 
viction  in 
r  effect,  it 
lave  sue- 

I 

5cted  day 
lome  and 
m  future, 
nton-place 
little  acts 
affection 
my  part- 
all  other 


sars 


SIX   YEARS   IN    A   MAN   OF    WAR. 


33 


i 


Attended  by  my  mother  and  her  infant  daugh- 
ter, on    he  12th  day  of  July,  1810,  I  turned  my 
back  on  the  quiet  hamlet  of  Bladen.     Henceforth 
my  lot  was  to  be  cast  amid  noise,  dissipation, 
storms   and   danger.      This,   however,  disturbed 
my  mind  but  little ;  brushing  away  a  tear,  I  leaped 
gaily  on  to  the  outside  of  the  coach,  and  in  a  few 
minutes,  enveloped  in  a  cloud  of  dust,  Avas  on  my 
way  to  London,  filled  with  the  one  absorbing  idea, 
"  I  am  going  to  sea !  I  am  going  to  sea ! "     Should 
the  reader  take  the  trouble  to  read  the  following 
chapters,  he  will  learn  the  mishaps,  hardships'! 
pleasures  and  successes  that  befel  me  there ;  and 
though  my  narrative  may  not  be  filled  with  the 
witching   tales,   and   romantic   descriptions,  that 
abound  in  the  v/orks  of  the  novelist,  it  shall  at 
least  commend  itself  to  his  notice  for  its  truthful- 
ness. 


Illjt 
ill 


I 


'I!!!! 


ill! 


hI''!;    I 


!  :i|l 


CHAPTER   II. 

on  board   he  Macedonmn-Disappointment-Tlie  seo- 

m^-Roth  u".  "'  'T  ""^-^  Oi-greeable  m2- 
ma  e— Kough  usage—Swearing— Useless  re-rPt«    tk^ 

rines-Boarders-Difference  between  a  merchant  s^n 

Bmy  Ga  vv  7  "''.  '"™'*  "^•""^"'-Anecdote  of 
fmL  r^  "^"^  determmaiion-Bill  of  fare  in 
a  man  of  war-Grog-Wine-A  sailor's  burial-Tbe 
Macedonian  gets  under  weigh-Arrival  at  Spithead- 
Fbgg.ng  for  drunlcenness-The  scene  describe^-^;: 
orable  except.ons-Mr.  Scott  and  the  marine-Two 

LXn'trT^"  "''r^  '^"""^  »"  •^°-''  -"-'^^° 
LsborTh.  ^T~^^"''-^'''=  Tagus-Arrival  at 
order  7?'-  "f  ^^^""'ed-Supply  of  edibles_An 
order-A  cruise  to  Corunna-A  desertion-Our  return 

Mght-Change  of  officers-Increase  of  floggings-fpoo? 
Bob  Hammond— A  flogein"  scenp    Pi„„t  „    .u        ■ 
the  fleet    B,^  ««•   .     <?    "  scene— Floggmg  through 

a  marinr  p     "^™*'  °^  '^"^"^  discipline-Murder  of 
a  marme-Execution-Advantage  of  mild  discipline 

Tmt"""-'''"^""^^  day  ontoard  the  Ma'dont;;: 
-Improvement  among  seamen  desirable. 

Before  we  sought  the  dects  of  th<.  F""-'----, 
we  paid  a  short  visit  to  Wanstead,  ^he^T  we  me" 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN    OF   WAR. 


35 


ication — Goes 
nt— Tlie  sep- 
reeable  mess- 
regrets—The 
-Hint  to  sail- 
3f  war-— Top- 
ers—-Scaven- 
its— Watches 
Duties  of  ma- 
^erchant  ship 
g  the  hands 
Anecdote  of 

of  fare  in 
burial—The 

Spithead — 
ribed— Hon- 
arine — Two 
and  sail  for 
-Arrival  at 
;dibles — An 
-Our  return 
—Shocking 
ings— Poor 
ig  through 
•Murder  of 
liscipline — 
tacedonian 


3  we  met 


with  very  pleasant  reception,  very  hospitable  en-    If 
tertainment,  very  affectionate  adieus.      Returning  ^ 
I     to  London,  we  hired  a  boat  and  sailed  down  the 
I     Thames,  on  whose  bosom  reposed  the  commerce 
I     of  the  world,  to  Gravesend,  where  we  spent  the 
night.     The  next  morning  I  experienced  a  new 
I     gratification,  which  was  nothing  less  than  being 
*     arrayed  in  a  complete  suit  of  sailor  apparel;  a 
tarpaulin  hat,  round  blue  jacket  and  wide  panta- 
loons.    Never  did  young  knight  swell  with  loftier 
emotion  when  donning  for  the  first  time  his  iron 
dress,  than  I  did  when  in  sea  dress  I  trod  the 
streets  of  Gravesend.     This  had  always  been  my 
highest  ambition.     The   gaudily  dressed  soldier 
never  had  charms  for  me ;  but  a  sailor,  how  nice 
he  looked !     Well,  here  I  stood,  at  last,  in  the 
often  coveted  dress ;  it  was  the  first  luxury  con- 
nected with  my  life  at  sea.     Pity  that  each  suc- 
cessive step  had  not  yielded  me  equal  delight. 
But  it  was  mine  to  learn  that  anticipation  and 
^     reality  were  not  born  twins ;  that  in  fact  there  are 
scarcely  any  two  existences  so  essentially  different 
in  their  characteristics.     That  T  should  not  lack 
the  means  of  comfort,  my  good  mother  purchased 
me  a  chest  of  clothing,  and,  as  her  last  token  of 
maternal  care,  presented  me  with  a  Bible,  a  prayer 
Dook,  and,  strangely  inconsistent  companions,  a 
I     pack  of  cards !     Thus  equipped,  we  once  more 
f     hired  a  boat  and  descended  the  river  two  miles 
i    below  Gravesend,  where  lay  the  Macedonian,  in 
graceful  majesty  on  the  sparkling  waters. 


; 


I 


:    llllij! 


V 


36 


ill!     » 


i    ' 


Hi    ; 

n 


^ 


A    VOICI:   FROM   TIIR   MAIN   DKCK 


Tho  first  guest  wc  ,  et  on   board  was  disap. 
pomtment.     From  the  promises  of  Lord  Fitzrov 
we  very  strangely  supposed  that  ho  felt  mv  im- 
portance nearly  PS  much  as  did  my  mother  or 

athcr.  Judge  then  how  we  felt,  when  we  learned 
that  no  ,.,e  knew  anything  in  particular  about 
my  veritable  self;  yet,  as  his  Lordship  was  absent, 

heysaidl  might  remain  on  board  until  his  re- 

but  flattenng  myself  that  all  would  be  rii^ht  on  his 
return,  I  soon  rallied  again,  and,  aided  bv  the 
presence  o.  my  mothnr,  passed  a  very  agreeable 

Towards  night,  my  mother  left  me;  it  scarcely 
need  be  said,  she  wept  when  we  parted.     What 
mother  would  not  ?     She  did  weep ;  she  strained 
me  to  her  heart,  and  impressed  affection's  purest 
Inss  upon  my  cheek.     How  like  a  dream  that 
moment  fled !     Now,  she  held  me  in  her  arms ;  a 
moment  after,  she  was  seated  in  the  light  boat 
and  gilding  along  the   turbid  Thames,  on  her 
homeward  way.     I  leaned  over  the  taffrail  and 
gazed  on  the  departing  boat,  and  when  it  disap- 
peared, I  turned  away  and  wept 

«  m^ss  "Tr  '''""'  7  ""™''  ^  ^™^  P»'  '"'^  "^ 
mess.       The  crew  of  a  man  of  ivar  is  divided 

into   htt  e   communities   of  about   eight,   called 

messes."    These  eat  and  drink  together,  and  are 

as  it  were,  so  many  families.    The  mess  to  which 

1  was  mtroduced,  was  composed  of  your  genuine. 


I     i' 


=:cK. 

1  was  disap' 
lOrd  Fitzroy, 
felt  my  im- 
f  mother  or 
1  we  learned 
icular  about 
>  was  absent, 
until  his  re- 
my  spirits, 
right  on  his 
ded  by  the 
Y  agreeable 

it  scarcely 
:ed.  What 
he  strained 
ion's  purest 
3  ream  that 
er  arms ;  a 

light  boat 
5s,  on  her 
afTrail  and 
n  it  disap- 

put  into  a 
is  divided 
ht,  called 
r,  and  are, 
5  to  which 


I 


SIX    YEARS    IN    A    MAN   OF   WAH. 


T 

1 


37 


weather-beaten,  old  tars.  But  for  one  of  its  inem- 
bers,  it  would  have  suited  me  very  well ;  this  one,  a 
real  grulfold  "  bull-dog,"  named  Hudson,  took  into 
his  head  to  hate  me  at  first  sight.  He  treated  me 
with  so  much  abuse  and  unkindness,  that  my 
messmates  soon  advised  me  to  change  my  mess 
a  privilege  which  is  wisely  allowed,  and  whicy 
tends  very  much  to  the  good  fellowship  of  a  ship 
crew ;  for  if  there  are  disagreeable  men  amonff 
them,  they  can  in  this  way  be  got  rid  of;  it  is  no 
unfrequent  case  to  find  a  few,  who  have  been 
spurned  from  all  the  messes  in  the  ship,  obliged 
to  mess  by  themselves. 

This  unkindness  from  the  brutal  Hudson  rather 
chilled  my  enthusiasm.  The  crew,  too,  by  some 
means  had  an  impression  that  my  mother  had 
brought  me  on  board  to  get  rid  of  me,  and  there- 
fore bestowed  their  bitterest  curses  on  her  in 
the  most  profuse  manner  imaginable.  Swearing 
I  had  heard  before,  but  never  such  as  I  heard 
there.  Nor  was  this  all ;  in  performing  the  work 
assigned  me,  which  consisted  in  helping  the 
seamen  take  in  provisions,  powder,  shot,  &c.,  I 
felt  the  insults  and  tyranny  of  the  midshipmen. 
These  little  minions  df  power  ordered  and  drove 
me  round  like  a  dog,  nor  did  I  and  the  other  boys 
dare  interpose  a  word.  They  were  officers  ;  their 
word  was  our  law,  and  wo  betide  the  presump- 
tuous boy  that  dared  refuse  implicit  obedience. 

These  things  reminded  me  of  what  had  heen 
said  to' me  of  the  hardships  of  sea  life  in  a  man 
4 


ij 


'M 


38 


A   VOICR    InoM   TIIK    MAIN    DKCK. 


!"""■'••■:,""•»'•  "I   " '•"•     This,  |,„w..v..r,  w,,^ 

■>';pil.--a„d...„.l.l,omy.lis,-,,„r,,,..„,,.Mt.h,.v 
"1.1  ..»•  I  was  ,.„tnv.|  „„  ,|,„  ,|,i,,.,  ,,„„|,^  ,.„^  ,.,.f 

l)ivnry|,rosj„...t!     I  iMl  „„„v  ll „|f  .Iis,,„s,..i; 

Inslnm,,.,  „«.„„.  I,,.  ,„y  sl.ipn.atrs.  T..,;,p„.,|  ,„„1 
'";«,'."'■•'  "■'"  "  """xi.-au..l,  I,.,  |.a.,  ,„|i,,;..|  r.,r  „ 
''^^.L.T,  l,,„  (.„„ul  ,1,,  sor,...„.t  at  ,l,o  ncruith,^ 
fee  ,,n.l  llu-  .sorff,.,mt  on  the  rfnV/-/?,/,;  vry  .li'^ 
loront  porsonagcs.     H.-  is  Iumu-o  ma.lo  ...  say, 

" ft  WAS  cnily  ,„.xl  mnrni,,.;  ,„  ,lr,il  I  was  sent, 

Cniinot  y,.ii  Iv  aisy  ,,i„l  l.-t  i,„.  „l,„„. , 

K..»'l  y.m  sec  I  've  Kot  anas,  l..gs,  „„,(  t,ct  of  my  own  ?" 

But  altlinuffl.  sonu-what  priovo.l  will,  ,ny  fir.t 

n^amst  ,ny  foolin^s,  an.l  wi.l.  .,,«  („„,^  ^^;l 
sopluc  <!osporation  r<.solv«l  to  make  the  best  of 
my.  oomht.o„.  Wo  wore  kept  busily  m  work 
ovory  day  ,n..il  ,lu>  ship',  stores  wore  all  on 
bonr.1,  ami  o.ir  frisate  was  ready  for  sea.  Then 
two  hundred  more  men,  dr.tu-hted  from  receivincr 
ships,  came  on  board,  to  oon.j.lete  the  number  of 

full  th  oe  Itnndred  men.  The  joclarity,  pleas- 
antry, humor  and  irood  feelins,  that  now  prevailed 
on  board  our  frigate,  somewhat  softened  the  un- 
pleasantness  of  my  lot,  and  cultivated  a  feelin<.  of 
xeconciitution  to  my  circumstances.    Various  little 


J 


»«'!»'    in   my 
vcvcr,   was 

>l*s  for  lifo, 
1  disposed, 
iniro  of  lli(> 
•Mip((>(l  and 
i."^((Ml  lor  a 
nrruithii^ 
I  V(»ry  dil- 
o  .sny, 


SIX   YEAUS    IN    A   MAN   OF    WAR. 


39 


my  own?" 

I  my  first 
strunrirlod 
>st  philo- 
e  best  of 
nt  work 
■0  all  on 
I'  Then 
roceiviniT 
iniber  of 

limbered 
J^  pleas- 
)revailed 
the  un- 
cling" of 
ms  little 


friendships,  which  f^prajipf  up  between  mo  and  my 
shipiiiateM,  threw  a  ^ learn  of  ^rladnewH  across  my 
path;  a  habit  of  alteiiiion,  respect  and  obedience 
in  a  short  time  secured  nie  universal  good  will.  I 
bepm  to  be  tohirably  satisfied. 

Many   boys  comidain  of  HI  usa^c  at  sea.     I 
Know  they  are  subjected  to  it  in  many  instances; 
yet,  in  most  cases,  they  owe  it  to  their  own  bold- 
ness.    A    hoy  on   shipboard,   who    is    habitually 
saucy,  will  be  kicked  and  culfen  by  all  with  whom 
ho  has  to  do;  he  will  be  made  miserable.     The 
reason  is,  I  imay-ine,  that  sailors,  being  treated  as 
inferiors  themselves,  love  to  find  opportunity  to 
act  the  superior  over   some  one.     They  do  this 
over  the  boys,  and  if  they  find  a  saucy,  insolent 
one,  they  show  him  no  mercy.     Permit  me,  then, 
to  advise  boys  who  go  to  sea,  to  be  civil  and  oblig- 
ing to  ai.;  they  will  be  amply  repaid  for  the  effort 
it  may  cost  them  to  make  the  trial,  especially  if 
they  gain  the  reputation,  as  I  did,  of  being  among 
the  best  boys  in  the  ship. 

A  vessel  of  war  contains  a  little  community  of 
human  beings,  isolated,  for  the  time  being,  from 
the  rest  of  mankind.  This  community  is  governed 
by  laws  peculiar  to  itself;  it  is  arranged  and  di- 
vided in  a  manner  suitable  to  its  circumstances. 
Hence,  when  its  members  first  come  together, 
each  one  is  assigned  his  respective  station  and 
duty.  For  every  task,  from  getting  up  the  anchor 
to  unbending  the  sails,  aloft  and  below,  at  the 
mess-tub  or  in  the  hammock,  each  task  has  its 


40 


A    VOlCIi    I'HOM    Tin:    MAIN    VVU'K. 


''« 


innn  nn,l  ,.,.,-h  ,«„.,  lus  ,,l,„v.     A  .1,1,,  oonlnins  a 
.-ot  o(  /,«„,„„  ,„„..|,i„„ry.  i,,  ,vl,i,-|,  ,.v,.,y  man  is  „ 

'I'Tlnl  r,..r»l,„ily  nn,l   pr.visio,,   |„  ,1,„  ,,„•«  „,•  j,, 
inm-liinisl— ili,.„ll.p,.w,.||iil  .-apliiin. 

Tho  „„..,  ,nv  .lislnluil,.,!  i„  ,,ll  pnrls  ..C  Hw-  vos- 
Wl;    tlms,.    „.    Il„-    l,.ps   an.   .-all,.,!    Con-Ua,.,,,,.,, 
ma.n-lop-,n,.n,  a,>,l  ini/zon-iop-,,,..,,,  will,  two  .-nn- 
tnm.s  to  on.'l,  (op,  ouo  lor  oaci,  wal.'h.    'ri„.s,.  to  .- 
•n.;n  1...V0   (0  loos,.,   .aI<o   i„,   ,,„.(•  ,„„1    JWI    iL 
.sails  a  ol>,  «„cl,  as  tho  top-,valla„t  .sails,  lop-sails, 
top-sallanl  ,-oyaI.  ao.l  lop-sail  sto,l,li„,...sails     ()i|,. 
ors   aro  oalloj   loi-o.-astl..  „„.„,  wai.stors,  an.l  .|,o 
nfter-guanl ;  tl.oso   havo   lo  looso.  to,ul,  and  f„rl 
the  con,-.sos,  that  is,  tho  loro-.sail,  tho  ,„ai,..s„i|,  ,aid 
lower  .. U.I.  ino-.sails;  ,I,,y  ,|so  have  lo  set   tho 
JiK,  (ly.i,.:-nl.,  and  .spai,k..r;  llio  al(er-!iuard  have 
n  .-'pe.-ial  cha,-e  to  coil  „p  all  rop.-s  io  tho  after 
part  ol  the  ship.     (),ho,.s  are  oalL-d  scuvm^ers: 
hose,  as  their  .u.t  very  altraclivo  „a,n..  imports, 
have   to  sweep  an.l   piok  up  the  .lirt  that  may 
chance  to  grdhev  through  ,1,.,  J.^,,  „„,   ,|„.„,^  fj 
over  hoar.  .     Then  co,ue  th..  hoys,  who  are  mostly 
employed  as  servaiUs  to  the  ollicers.     Our  can- 
tan,  had  a  s.ew,r.l  an.l  a  hoy ;  these  acle.l  as  his 
ihiniesiK.,  ser<-,.nts  m  his  larce  and  stately  cabin 
wh.ch    to  .noet   the  i.leas  of  landsmen,  ".nay  be' 
eal  e.i  »us  house.    The  li.M.tonants,  pn,scr,  surt^eon, 
.-.n,   sa,l,n.j.master.  had  each  a  hoy ;  thev,  together 
will,   the  two   iieulena.its  of  mariues.  "who  „,o,„ 
waited  upon  by  two  marines,  form  what  is  called 


UK. 

i|)  conhiins  a 
i'ly  man  is  n 
ir  wiih  woii- 
«'  //'?V^  of  iis 

^  of  tlip  vcs- 
>n'-lo|>-rn('n, 
illj  two  oap- 

Tlu'so  top- 
><1  lurl  I  lie 
Is,  top-sails, 
•sails.  Olli- 
rs,  and  tlio 
d,  and  furl 
.in-sail,sind 

to  set  the 
ruard  have 
I  tho  after 
cave?f,irers; 
10  imports, 

til  at  may 
d  throw  it 
are  mostly 

Our  cap- 
'tod  as  his 
oly  cabin, 
I,  may  be 
',  suriT^eon, 
■y  together 

t  is  called 


SIX    YKAKS    IN    A    MAN    OF    VVAK. 


41 


tho  ward-room  ollioers.  The  ward-room  is  a  larffo 
cabin,  (I  mejui  larn^c;  for  a  ship,  of  course,)  below 
the  captain's,  where  they  all  mess  to^^ciher;  aft 
of  this  cabin  is  a  smaller  oiu;,  which  serves  as  a 
sj)ecios  of  store-room.  JJesidcs  thes(!  accommo- 
dations, every  ward-room  ofiiccr  has  his  state- 
room, containin.r  his  cot,  wash-stand,  writing- 
desk,  clothes,  cVc.  Tlie  irunner,  boatswain,  and 
SOUK!  others,  are  also  allowed  a  boy;  and  a  man 
and  boy  are  apj)ointed  to  be  the  servants  of  a  cer- 
tain nundjer  of  midshi])men. 

Another  arrauircMnent  is,  that  of  forminjr  the 
ship's  company  into  watches.  The  captain'^  first 
lieutenant,  surofeon,  purser,  boatswain,  gunner, 
carpenter,  armorer,  toq-ether  with  the  stewards 
and  boys,  are  excused  from  belonging  to  them, 
but  are  liable  to  be  called  out  to  take  in  sail; 
some  of  the  last  mentioned  are  called  idlers.  All 
others  are  in  watches,  called  the  larboard  and 
starboard  watches. 

Stations  are  also  assigned  at  the  guns,  to  the 
whole  crew.  When  at  sea,  the  drummer  beats  to 
(piarters  every  night.  This  beat,  by  which  the 
men  are  summoned  to  quarters,  is  a  regular  tune. 
I  have  often  heard  the  words  sung  which  belono- 
to  it ;  this  is  the  chorus  :  ^ 

"Hearts  of  oak  arc  our  ships,  jolly  tars  are  our  men, 
\Ve  always  are  ready,  steady,  boys,  steady, 
To  fight  and  to  conquer  again  and  again." 

...  ,„,^  evening  Qium,  aii  nands  hurry 
to  the  guns.     Eight  men  and  a  boy  are  stationed 

4^- 


42 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE   MAIN   DECK. 


lliilliiliil 


at  each  gun,  one  of  whote  is  captain  of  the  mn 

another  sponges  and  loads  it,  the  rest  take  hold 

of  the  SKle  tackle-falls,  to  run  the   gun  in  and 

out;  jhtle  the  boy  is  employed  in  handing  the 

cartridges,  for  which  he  is  honored  with  the  sin- 

gularly  euphonious  cognomen  of  powder-monkey. 

iiesides  these  arrangements  among  the  men. 

there  are  from  thirty  to  forty  marine^  to  be  dl 

posed  of     These  do  duty  as  sentries  at  the  cap- 

tarns  cabm,  the  ward-room,  and  at  the   galley 

tioni  TJr  "'  ^<'°'''"="  They  are  Jo  J. 
tzoned  at  the  large  guns  at  night,  as  far  as  their 
numbers  run.  When  a  ship  is  i„  action,  and 
small  arms  can  be  brought  to  bear  on  the  enemy, 

fxnir.f  "°"''*  °\*'  ''^'''■^''^'  *^y-^e  als^o 
expected  to  assist  m  boarding,  in  conjunction  with 

sevoral  seamen  from  each  gun,  who  are  armed 
wjA  pistols  and  pikes,  and  called  boarders 

The  great  disparity  of  numbers  between  the 
crew  of  a  merchant  ship  and  that  of  a  man  of  war 
occasions  a  difference  in  their  internal  arrange- 
ments and  mode  of  life,  scarcely  conceivable  by 
those  who  have  not  seen  both.  This  is  seen 
throughout,  from  the  act  of  rousing  the  hands  in 
the  morning  to  that  of  taking  in  sail.  In  the 
merchantman,  the  watch  below  is  called  up  bv  a 
few  strokes  of  the  handspike  on  the  forecastle! 

mates  The  boatswain  is  a  petty  officer,  of  con- 
siderable importance  in  his  way;  he  and  his 
maies  cany  u  small  silver  whistle  or  pipe,  sus- 


T» 


I 


I 


of  the  gun, 
t  take  hold 
?un  in  and 
anding  the 
th  the  sin- 
sr-monkey. 
■   the  men, 
to  be  dis- 
at  the  cap- 
the   galley 
e  also  sta- 
ir as  their 
ction,  and 
he  enemy, 
jy  are  also 
ction  with 
ire  armed 
srs. 

tween  the 
m  of  war, 
'  arrange- 
livable  by 
s  is  seen 
hands  in 
>    In  the 

up  by  a 
)recastle ; 

and  his 

')  of  con- 

and  his 

ipe,  sus- 


SIX  YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


43 


pended   from   the   necli^  by  a   small   cord.     He 
receives  word  from  the  officer  of  the  watch  to  call 
the  hands  up.     You  immediately  hear  a  sharp, 
shrill  whistle ;  this  is  succeeded  by  another  and 
another  from  his  mates.     Then  follows  his  hoarse, 
rough  cry  of  "All  hands  ahoy  ! "  which  is  forth- 
with repeated  by  his  mates.     Scarcely  has  this 
sound  died  upon  the  ear,  before  the  cry  of  "  Up  all 
hammocks  ahoy  I "  succeeds  it,  to  be  repeated  in 
like  manner.     As  the  first  tones  of  the  whistle 
penetrate  between  decks,  signs  of  life  make  their 
appearance.      Rough,   uncouth   forms    are   seen 
tumbling  out  of  their  hammocks  on  all  sides,  and 
before  its  last  sounds  have  died  upon  the  air,  the 
whole  company  of  sleepers  are  hurriedly  prepar- 
ing for  the  duties  of  the  day.     No  delay  is  per- 
mitted, for  as  soon  as  the  before-mentioned  officers 
have  uttered  their  imperative  commands,  they  run 
below,  each  armed  with  a  rope's-end,  with  which 
they  belabor  the  shoulders  of  any  luckless  wight 
upon  whose  eyes   sleep   yet   hangs   heavily,  or 
whose  slow-moving  limbs   show  him  to  be  but 
half  awake.  ^ 

With  a  rapidity  which  woulcF  surprise  a  lands- 
man, the  crew  dress  themselves,  lash  their  ham- 
mocks and  carry  them  on  deck,  where  they  are 
stowed  for  the  day.  There  is  system  even  in  this 
arrangement ;  every  hammock  has  its  appropriate 
place.  Below,  the  beams  are  all  marked ;  each 
hammnrk   is  mnrL-Pfl  ■nrjtli   o   nrkyvr^c-^^-^A:-^^ 

ber,  and  in  the  darkest  night,  a  sailor  will  go 


44 


A   VOICE   fKOM   tllE   MAIN   DECK. 


unhesitatingly  to  his  own  hammock.  Thev  are 
a  so  kept  exceeding  clean.  Every  man  is  pri! 
vided  with  two  so  that  while  he  is 'scrubbing  ad 
c  eaning  one  he  may  have  another  to  use.  Nc. 
thing  but  such  precautions  could  enable  so  many 
men  to  live  in  so  small  a  space  " 

evetluif   Tl''"'^  ","'"/'  '^'  performance  of 
every  duty.     The  word  of  command  is  given  in 

orcedTv":r""'  ''"'  '^  P™"-?'  '"^^'•■--  - 
lorced   by  the   same  unceremonious   rope's-end. 

To  skulk  IS  therefore  next  to   impossible;    the 
least  tardiness  is  rebuked  by  the  cry  of  "Hurrah 

lC'"%i'"^  "  ^-^^   ^--   'long.  We 

IZ.  M  '^"'™  "^  ''"^'■"S  i^  f"  from  being 

agreeable ;    it  perpetually  reminds  you  of  youf 

want  0    1.  erty ;  it  makes  you  feel,  sometimeras 

with  th^f  1  "■"'/'  *'  ""''  ^'"^^Sed  garmems, 
with  the  freedom  of  your  own  native  hills,  would 
be  preferable   to  John   Bull's  "beef  and  duff" 

Z^r  ''  '-''  '''  ^"^^'^-'^  ^^  ^'^  'i-n. 

We  had  one  poor  fellow,  an  Irishman,  named 

HeL.7^'  ""^1^  '"'^  ""-^^^y  '•"d  unhappy. 
He  was  the  victjfi  of  that  mortifying  system  of 
imp^ssment  prevalent  in  Great  Lfai/ in^im 

with  he  m  T'  °"  ^""^  ^"'^"-''^y  ""'acquainted 
with  the  mysteries  of  sea  life.     One  of  his  first 

inquiries  was,  where  he  sh6uld  find  his  bed  sun- 

"4'  "..«'!. ™-^»«'-.  -ith  true  sailor 
rOsJ.-..ny=^,  iieui  mm  to  tiie  boatswain.     "And 


They  aire 
nan  is  pro- 
ubbing-  and 
•  use.  No- 
e  so  many 

rmance  of 
s  g-iven  in 
dience  en- 
rope's-end. 
sible ;    the 
f  "  Hurrah 
ig.'  heave 
rom  being 
i  of  your 
etimes,  as 
garments, 
lis,  would 
nd  duff," 
e  driving 

1,  named 
unhappjr. 
rstem  of 

in  time 
quainted 
his  first 
)ed,  sup- 
he  same 
e  sailor 

"And 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


45 


I 


where  shall  I  find  a  bed,  sir  ?"  asked  he  of  this 
rugged  son  of  the  ocean. 

The  boatswain  looked  at  him  very  contemptu- 
ously for  a  moment,  then,  rolling  his  lump  of 
tobacco  into  another  apartment  of  his  ample 
mouth,  replied, 

"  Have  you  got  a  knife  ?  " 

"Yes,  sir." 

"Well,  stick  it  into  the  softest  plank  in  the 
ship,  and  take  that  for  a  bed ! " 

Poor  fellow !  what  was  sport  for  others  was 
pain  to  him.  He  had  been  used  to  kind  treat- 
ment at  home.  After  he  had  received  his  ham- 
mock, when  turning  out  in  the  morning,  with  the 
boatswain's  mates  at  his  heels,  he  used  to  exclaim, 
"  When  I  was  at  home,  I  would  walk  in  my 
father's  garden  in  the  morning,  until  the  maid 
would  come  and  say,  '  William,  will  you  come  to 
your  ta,  or  your  coffee  ta,  or  your  chocolarata  ?  * 
But  oh  !  the  case  is  altered  now ;  it 's  nothing  but 
bear  a  hand,  lash  and  carry.     Oh  dear ! " 

I  confess  that  Billy  Garvy  was  not  the  only 
one  who  contrasted  the  present  with  the  past,  or 
who  found  the  balance  to  be  greatly  in  favor  of 
the  former.  I  often  looked  back  to  the  village  of 
Bladen,  and  thought  how  preferable  would  be  the 
bright  hearth-side  and  pleasant  voices  of  that  quiet 
home,  to  the  profane,  rough,  uncomfortable  life 
we  led  on  shipboard.  As  these  reflections  were 
T.VXX J  liiiiii^  i^ut  pieasurauit;,  i  L-uiiioiiua  liiem  as 
quickly  as  possible,  with  a  determination  to  be  as 


i 


iiii' 


' 


48 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE   MAIN   DECK. 


happy  as  I  could  in  my  station  of  servant  to  the 

doman  a  resolution  which  I  commend  to  all 
lads  who,  like  me,  are  foolish  enough  to  quit  the 
quiet  scenes  of  a  native  village,  for  the  noisy,  pro- 
fane atmosi)here  of  a  mu„  of  war. 

As  .,  .are  was  novel  and  so  different  from 
snore  h  -.,g.  It  was  some  time  before  I  could  get 
fully  reconciled  to  it:  it  was  composed  of  hard 

and  salt  beef  at  sea,  pea  soup  and  burgoo.     Bur- 
goo,  or  as  it  was  sportively  called,  skiUagallee,  was 
oatmeal  boiled  in  water  to  the  consistency  of  hasty 
pudding.     Sometimes  we  had  cocoa  iL.ead  of 
burgoo.     Once  a  week  we  had  flour  and  raisins 
served  out,  with  which  we  made  "  duff"  or  pud- 
dmg.     To  prepare  these  articles,  each  mess  had 
Its  cook,  who  drew  the  provisions,  made  the  duff, 
washed  the  mess  kids,  &c.     He  also  drew  the 
grog  tor  the  mess,  which  consisted  of  a  gill  of 
rum  mixed  with  two  gills  of  water  for  each  man. 

o  clock,  RM  each  man  received  half  a  pint  of 
wine.  The  boys  only  drew  half  this  quantity, 
but  were  allowed  pay  for  the  remainder,  a  regula- 
tion wnich  could  have  been  profitably  applied  to 
th«  whole  supply  of  grog  and  wine  for  both  boys 
and  men.  But  those  were  not  days  in  which 
Temperance  triumphed  as  she  does  now;  thouo-h, 
I  beheve,  the  British  naw  bns  not  -- --■  - 


^ant  to  the 
:ate  Mace- 
2nd  to  all 
;o  quit  the 
noisy,  pro- 

irent  from 
could  get 
d  of  hard 

salt  pork 
30.  Bur- 
allee,  was 
Y  of  hasty 
istead  of 
Ld  raisins 
"  or  pud- 
ness  had 

the  duff; 
Irew  the 
1  gill  of 
ich  man. 
.*  at  four 
I  pint  of 
quantity, 
L  regula- 
'plied  to 
>th  boys 
I  which 
though, 
■ascu  to 


SIX  YEARS   IN   A   M^^N   OF   WAR. 


47 


dispense    the    "drink   that's   in    the    drunkard's 
bowl  "  to  her  seamen. 

Shortly  after  our  captain  came  on  board,  his 
servant  died  somewhat  suddenly,  so  that  I  had  an 
early  opportunity  of  seeing  how  sailors  are  dis- 
posed of  in  this  sad  hour.  The  corpse  was  laid 
out  on  the  grating-,  covered  with  a  flag ;  as  we 
were  yet  in  the  river,  the  body  was  taken  on  shore 
and  buried,  without  the  beautiful  burial-service  of 
the  church  of  England  being-  read  at  his  grave— 
a  ceremony  which  is  not  omitted  at  the  interment 
of  the  veriest  pauper  in  that  country. 

I  have  purposely  dwelt  on  these  particulars,  that 
the  reader  may  feel  himself  initiated  at  once  into 
the  secrets  of  man-of-war  usages.  He  has  doubt- 
less seen  ships  of  war  with  their  trim  nQ;gmn- 
and  frowning-  ports,  and  his  heart  has  swelled  with 
pride  as  he  has  gazed  upon  these  floating-  cities— 
the  representatives  of  his  nation's  character  in 
foreign  countries  :  to  their  internal  arrangements, 
however,  he  has  been  a  stranger.  I  have  endeav- 
ored  to  introduce  him  into  the  interior :  a  desire 
to  make  him  feel  at  home  there,  is  my  apology  for 
dwelling  so  long  on  these  descriptions. 

After  various  delays,  we  were  at  last  ready  for 
sea  and  under  sailing  orders.  The  tide  and  wind 
were  both  propitious  ;  then  came  the  long-expected 
cry  of  the  boatswain,  "All  hands  up  anchor 
ahoy ! "  The  crew  manned  the  capstan  in  a  trice, 
,,,.,,  ^..xxiiiiiy  iwuxiu  lu  the  tune  ojt  a  lively  air 
played  by  the  fifer,  the  huge  anchor  rapidly  left 


I         !! 


,Nl!il! 


ij! 

l! 


48 


A   VOICE   FROM  THE   MAIN   DECK. 


the  mud  of  tlio  Thmnos,  and  hunir  at  tlic  bows  of 
our  taut  fri^T-ato.  Tlion  cainc  the  cry  of  "All 
Lands  uiako  sail  ahoy!"  As  if  by  Hla^ri(•,  she 
was  imuicdiattdy  covered  willi  canvass  ;  the  favor- 
innr  breeze  at  once  filled  our  sails,  and  the  form 
that  had  lain  for  weeks  inert  and  motionless  on 
the  waters,  now  bounded  along-  the  waves  like  a 
thino-  of  life.  Rapidly  we  ran'  down  tlie  channel, 
and  before  we  had  Avell  ^ot  under  weiah  came  to 
an  anchor  an-ain  at  Spitlu^ad,  under  shelter  of  the 
g-arden  of  Enoland— the  Isle  of  Wight. 

Short  as  was  the  ])eriod  between  weighing- 
anchor  ofFGravesend  and  our  arrival  at  SpilheacF, 
it  gave  opportunity  for  one  of  those  occurrences 
which  are  a  disgrace  to  the  naval  service  of  any 
nation,  and  a  degradation  to  our  common  human- 
ity, which  the  public  opinion  of  the  civilized  world 
should  frown  out  of  existence  :  I  allude  to  the 
brutal  practice  of  flogging-. 

A  poor  fellow  had  fallen  into  the  very  sailor- 
like  offence  of  getting  drunk.  For  this  the  captain 
sentenced  him  to  the  punishment  of  four  dozen 
lashes.  He  was  first  placed  in  irons aW  night: 
the  irons  used  for  this  purpose  were  shackles 
fitting  round  the  ankles,  through  the  ends  of 
which  was  passed  an  iron  bar  some  ten  or  twelve 
feet  it  length :  it  Avas  thus  long  because  it  was  no 
unfrequent  case  for  half  a  dozen  men  to  be  ironed 
at  once.  A  padlock  at  the  end  of  the  bar  held 
the   nrisouer  sf^r'nrnlTr      TKiic,  y,i„„^^   ,\,  u  j 

vile,"  he  was  guarded  by  a  marine  until  the  cap- 


I    ! 


SIX    yi^ARS    IN   A    MAN    OF   WAR, 


49 


c  bows  of 
f  of  "  All 
iaiL|:ic,  she 
the  ijivor- 
tbc  form 
onless  on 
ves  like  a 
^  channel, 

I  came  to 
ter  of  the 

weiiifhInGf 
SpitheatI, 
currenccs 
'e  of  any 
ti  human- 
sed  world 
le  to  the 

ry  sailor- 
le  captain 
►ur  dozen 

II  night: 
shackles 
ends  of 
)r  twelve 
t  was  no 
)e  ironed 

bar  held 

it  J 

•  uuress 

the  cap- 


tain bade  llio  fir.st  lioutonant  proparn  the  hands  to 
witness  the  punishtncMit.  Upon  this  the  lieuten- 
ant transiniltcd  the  order  to  tlie  master  at  arms. 
He  then  ordered  tlie  rrratinir  or  hatcli  full  of  square 
holes  to  be  rigof.d  :  it  was  placed  accordingly  be- 
tween the  main  and  spar  dcck.s,  not  far  from  tho 
mainmast. 

While  these  preparations  were  j^oino-  on,  the 
officers  were  dressimr  themselves  in  full  uniform 
and  armin,^  themselves  with  their  dirks:  the 
prisoner's  messmates  carried  him  his  best  clothes, 
to  make  him  appear  in  as  decent  a  manner  as 
possible.  This  is  aUvays  done,  in  the  hope  of 
moving-  the  feeling-s  of  the  captain  favorably 
towards  tho  prisoner.  * 

This  done,   the  hoarse,  dreaded  cry  of  "  All 
hands  ahoy  to  witness  punishment!"  from  the 
lips  of  the  boatswain,  peals  along-   the  ship  as 
mournfully  as  the  .notes  of  a  funeral  knell.     At 
this  signal  the  officers  muster  on  the  spar  deck, 
the  men  on  the  m?Jn  deck.     Next  came  the  pris- 
oner ;  guarded  by  a  marine  on  one  side  and  the 
master  at  arms  on  the  other,  he  was  marched  up 
to  the  grating.     His  back  was  made  bare  and  his 
shirt  laid  loosely  upon  his  back ;  the  two  quarter- 
masters proceeded  to  seize  him  up;  that  is,  they 
tied  his  hands  and  feet  with  spun-yarns,  called 
the   seizings,  to   the   grating.     The   boatswain's 
mates,  whose  office  it  is  to  flog  on  board  a  man  of 
TTU.X,  ov-u^a  leady   vvuii  liieir  dreadful  weapon  of 
punishment,   the   cat-o'-nine-tails.      This   instru-* 
5 


I 


Mi  ll 


1     w 


I   ! 


li' 

1 

60 


A    VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN    DECK. 


ment  of  torturo  was  composed   of  nine  cords,  a 
quarter  olan  incli  round  uiul  about  two  feet  lono-, 
the  cuds  wliipt  with  (int'  twi.ie.     To  these  cords 
was   aflixed   a  stock,  two  leet   in  lenqth,  covered 
with  red  haize.    Tlie  reacU-r  may  be  sure  that  it  is 
a  most  formidable  instrument  in  the  hands  of  a 
stronir,  skilful  man.     Indeed,  any  man  who  should 
whip  his  horse  with  it  would  connnit  an  outrao-e 
on  humanity,  which  the  moral  feelinir  of  any  com- 
munity would  not  tolerate ;  he  would  be  prosecu- 
ted for  cruelty;  yet   it  is  used   to  whip  men  on 
board  ships  of  war  ! 

The  boatswain's  mate  is  ready,  with  coat  off 
and  whip  in  hand.     The  captain  gives  the  word. 
Carefully  spreadinnr  the  corcls  with  the  fingers  of 
his  left  hand,  the  executioner  throws  the  cat  over 
Jus  right  shoulder;  it  is  brought  down  upon  the 
now  uncovered  herculean  shoulders  of  the  man. 
His  flesh  creeps— it  reddens  as  if  blushing  at  the 
indignity;  the  sufferer  groans ;  lash  follows  lash, 
until  the  first  mate,  wearied  with  the  cruel  em- 
ployment, gives   place   to   a   second.     Now   two 
dozen  of  these  dreadful  lashes  have  been  inflicted  : 
the  lacerated  back  looks   inhuman;  it  resembles 
roasted  meat  burnt  nearly  black  before  a  scorching 
fire;  yet  still  'he  lashes   fall;   the  captain  con- 
tinues  merciless.     Vain  are  ihe  cries  and  prayers 
of  the  wretched  man.     "  1  would  not  forgive  the 
Saviour,"  was  the  blasphemous  reply  of  one  of 
these  naval  demi-gods,  or  rather  demi-fiends,  to  a 
plea  for  mercy.     The  executioners  keep  on.    Four 


I 


ne  cords,  a 

0  fc'ct  long", 
llu'sc  cords 
th,  covered 
re  that  it  is 
liands  of  a 
who  should 
an  outrag-e 
)i'  any  com- 
)e  prosecu- 
ip  MEN  on 

th  coat  o(r 

the  word. 

fingers  of 

le  cat  over 

upon  the 

f  the  MAN. 

ling  at  the 

Hows  lash, 

cruel  em- 

Now   two 

1  inflicted : 
resembles 
scorching 
>tain  con- 
id  prayers 
»rg-ive  the 
3f  one  of 
ends,  to  a 
•n.    Four 


SIX  YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


51 


dozen  strokes  have  cut  tip  liis  flesh  and  robbed 
him  of  all  sclf-rcspcct ;  there  he  hangs,  a  pitied, 
self-despised,  groaning-,  bleeding  wretch  ;  and  now 
the  captain  cries,  forbear !  His  shirt  is  thrown 
over  his  shoulders  ;  the  seizings  are  loosed  ;  he  is 
led  away,  staining  his  path  with  red  drops  of 
blood,  and  the  hands,  "piped  down"  by  the  boat- 
swain, sullenly  return  to  their  duties. 

Such   was  the  scene  witnessed  on  board  the 
Macedonian,  on  the  passage  from  London  to  Spit- 
head;    such,  substantially,  is   every  punishment 
scene  at  sea ;  only  carried,  sometimes,  to  a  greater 
length  of  severity.      Sad  and  sorrowful  were  my 
feelings  on  witnessing  it;  thoughts  of  the  friendly 
warnings  of  my  old  acquaintance  filled  my  mind, 
and  I  inwardly  wished  myself  once  more  under 
the  friendly  roof  of  my  father,  at  Bladen.      Vaia 
wish  !     I  should  have  believed  the  warning  voice 
when  it  was  given.      Believe  me,  young   man, 
you   will   often  breathe   that  wish,  if  ever   you 
wander  from  a  father's  house. 

Flogging  in  the  navy  is  more  severe  than  in 
the  army,  though  it  is  too  bad  to  be  tolerated 
there,  or  indeed  anywhere.  Other  modes  of 
punishment  might  be  successfully  substituted, 
which  would  deter  from  misconduct,  without  de- 
stroying the  self-respect  of  the  man.  I  hope  the 
day  will  come,  when  a  captain  will  no  more  be 
allowed  to  use  the  "cat"  than  he  is  now  to  use 
poison.  It  should  be  an  interdicted  weapon. 
Though  I  have  spoken  severely  of  the  officers 


52 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE   MAIN   DECK. 


of  the  navy,  let  it  not  be  thought  that  the 
class  of  naval  officers  are  lost  to  the  finer  feelings 
of  humanity.      There  are  many  humane,  consid- 
erate men  among-  them,  who  deserve  our  highest 
respect.     This  was  the  case  with  the  first  lieuten- 
ant of  the  Macedonian,  Mr.  Scott.      He  abhorred 
flogging.     Once,  when  a  poor  marine  was  under 
sentence,  he  plead  hard  and  successfully  with  the 
captain  for  his  respite.     This  was  a  great  victory  ; 
for  the  captain  had  a  profound  hatred  of  marines. 
The  poor  soldier  was  extremely  grateful  for  his 
intercession,  and  would  do  anything  for  him  to 
show   his   sense   of  the   obligation;  indeed,  the 
sailors,  in  their  odd  way,  showed  their  preference 
for  him  by  describing  him  as  a  man  who  had  a 
soul  to  be  saved,  and  who  ought  to  go  to  heaven ; 
while  of  the  captain,  they  Avhispered  that  if  he 
did  not   go   to   perdition,  "  the    devil   would   be 
cheated  of  his  due."     These  are,  in  a  manner, 
proverbial  expressions    of   like   and   dislike,  on 
board  a  Britijh  man  of  war. 

One  of  the  effects  of  this  exhibition  of  cruelty 
was  seen  during  the  short  time  we  lay  at  Spit- 
head.  The  two  boys,  who  were  servants  to  the 
first  and  second  lieutenants,  conceiving  a  special 
dislike  to  the  idea  of  being  flogged,  took  it  into 
their  heads  to  run  away.  Being  sent  on  shore, 
they  shaped  their  course  for  the  country.  It  was 
well  for  them  that  they  were  not  retaken.. 

Our  frio-ntP.  Iinrl    nrrlors;    in    rnr\^rf^^T   hr^twrnnn    ixnm 

and   three  hundred  troops  from  Portsmouth  to 


T 

whole       ■        i 
elinsfs       ^        J 


m 


SIX   YEAltS   IN   A   MAN   OF  WAR. 


58 


he  whole 
r  feelings 
e,  consid- 
r  hi<rhest 
5t  lieuten- 

abhorred 
'as  under 

with  the 
t  victory ; 

marines, 
il  for  his 
ir  him  to 
[leed,  the 
reference 
10  had  a 

heaven ; 
hat  if  he 
^rould   be 

manner, 
slike,  on 

f  cruelty 
^  at  Spit- 
Its  to  the 
a  special 
k  it  into 
>n  shore, 
It  was 

louth  to 


i 


Lisbon,  to  assist  the  Portuguese  against  the 
French.  The  soldiers  were  stowed  on  the  main 
decks,  with  very  few  conveniences  for  the  voya<re  ; 
their  officers  messed  and  berthed  in  the  wa'rd- 
room.  Having  taken  them  on  board,  we  again 
weighed  anchor,  and  were  soon  careering  before 
the  breeze  on  our  way  to  Lisibon. 

As    usual,  we  who  were   landsmen   had   our 
share  of  that  merciJess,  nondescript,  hateful,  stuL- 
tifymg    disease,   ycJeped  sea-sickness ;   as  usual 
we  wished  the  foolish  wish  that  we  had  never 
come  to  sea ;  as  usual,  we  got  over  it,  and  laurrhed 
at  ourselves  for  our  st  a-sick  follies.      Our  good 
ship  paid  littlo  attention,  however,  to  our  feelings  ; 
she  kept  along  on  her  bounding  way,  and,  after  a 
week  at  sea,  we  were  greeted  with  the  pleasant 
cry  ot  "  Land  ho ! "  from  the  mast-head.    As  it  was 
now  near  night,  we  lay  off  and  on  until  morning; 
at  day~break  we  fired  a  gun  for  a  pilot.      The 
wind  being  nearly  dead  ahead,  we  had  to  beat 
about  nearly  all  day.      Towards  night  it  became 
lair,  and  we  ascended  the  Tagus.      This  river  is 
about  nine  miles  wide  at  its  mouth,  and  is  four 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  in  length ;  it  has  a  very 
rapid  current,  with  steep,  fertile  banks.      Aided 
by  a   fine   breeze,    we   ascended   it  in   splendid 
sty  e,  passed  a  half-mooa  battery,  then  shot  past 
Belem  Castle  into  the  port  of  Lisbon,  about  ten 
miles  from  its  mouth.     Here  we  found  a  spacious 
.....        .,,,,a  ^.itii  snipping,      liesides  numerous 

merchantmen,  there  were  two  ships  of  a  hundred 
5# 


I 


im 


A   VOICE    FROM  THE   MAIN   DECK. 

gun«,  several  seventy-fours,  frigates  and  sloops  of 
war,  with  a  large  number  of  transports ;  all  de- 
signed for  the  defence  of  Lisbon  against  the 
French. 

Lisbon  has  a  fine  appearance  from  the  harbor. 
A  stranger,  after  a  long  sea-voyage,  while  stand- 
ing on  the  deck  of  his  vessel,  and  gazing  on  its 
battlements   and  towers,  might  foncy  it  to  be  a 
terrestrial  paradise;  but,  on  landing,  his  admira- 
tion would  certainly  sink  below  zero,  as  he  plod- 
ded his  way,  beset  by  saucy  beggars   at   almost 
every  step,   through    its   narrow,   filthy   streets. 
Such,  at  least,  was  -.ny  impression,  as  I  perambu- 
lated the  city.      Among  other  things,  I  noticed  a 
great  variety  of  churches  and  convents,  which 
furnished  swarms  of  plump,  good-natured  friars, 
under  whose  spiritual  domination  the  good  people 
of  Lisbon  were  content  to  rest.      I  also  counted 
thirteen  large  squares.      One  of  them  contained 
a  huge  black  horse,  standing  in  its  centre,  with 
the  figure  of  a  man  upon  his  back,  both  much 
larger   than  life.      What   this  monument  repre- 
sented, I  did  not  learn.     That  square  is  denomi- 
nated  Black  Horse  Square. 

On  the  day  aftei  our  arrival^  the  Macedonian 
was  the  scene  of  considerable  bustle.  The  troops, 
who  seemed  to  forget  their  proximity  to  a  field 
of  carnage,  in  the  delight  they  felt  at  escaping 
from  the  confinement  on  shipboard,  were  landed; 
several  boats'  rr^ws  wprc»  qlon  cor^f  *it^  ti>^  «: —  j.^ 

assist  in  the  defence  of  the  place. 


SIX   YEARS   IN  A   MAW   OF   WAR. 


65 


sloops  of 

;  all  de- 

iinst  the 

e  harbor, 
le  stand- 
ng  on  its 
t  to  be  a 

admira- 
he  plod- 
t   almost 

streets. 
)erambu- 
loticed  a 
3,  which 
id  friars, 
id  people 
counted 
ontained 
re,  with 
h  much 
it  repre- 
denomi- 

edonian 
3  troops, 
a  field 
scaping 
landed ; 

• 


While  we  lay  here,  our  ship  was  well  sup- 
plied  with  fruits  from  the  shore.  Large  bunches 
of  delicious  grapes,  abundance  of  sweet  oranges, 
water-melons,  chestnuts,  and  also  a  bountiful  sup- 
ply of  gigantic  onions,  of  peculiar  flavor,  enabled 
our  crew  to  gratify  their  palates  in  true  Eno-lish 
style.  Poor  fellows  !  they  feasted,  laughed,°and 
joked,  as  if  the  future  had  nothing  to  develop 
but  fairy  scenes  of  unmixed  delight.  Little 
thought,  indeed,  does  your  true  tar  take  of  the 
morrow. 

Amid  these  feastings,  however,  there  rose  some- 
thing to  trouble  Macbeth,  in  the  shape  of  an  order 
from  the  admiral  to  prepare  for  a  cruise.  This 
was  peremptory ;— for  a  cruise  therefore  we  pre- 
pared.  Our  boats'  crews  came  on  board  •  the 
officers  stored  their  larder  with  the  means  of 
gustatory  gratifications ;  and  we  stood  out  to  sea 
again. 

The  port  of  Corunna,  in  Spam,  was  the  next 
place  at  which  we  anchored.  While  lying  in  this 
spacious  and  safe  harbor,  our  little  world  was 
thrown  into  temporary  confusion  by  the  loss  of 
the  ward-room  steward,  Mr.  Sanders.  This  man 
could  speak  in  the  Spanish  tongue ;  he  had  accu- 
mulated a  considerable  sum  of  money  by  long 
service,  prize  money,  and  an  economy  little  known 
among  sailors.  For  some  cause  or  other  he  had 
become  dissatisfied ;  so,  one  day,  he  engaged  a 
opaniard  to  run  his  boat  under  the  stern  of  our 
frigate ;  dropping  from  one  of  the  stern  ports  into 


» 


66 


A   VOICE    FROM  THE    MAIN   DECK. 


the  boat,  iinperceived  by  the  officers,  the  wily 
Spaniards  covered  him  with  their  loose  garments 
and  sails,  and  then  conveyed  him  to  the  shore. 
This  was  running-  a  great  risk ;  for  had  he  been 
detected  in  the  act,  or  taken  afterwards,  he  would 
have  felt  the  cruel  strokes  of  the  lash.  Fortu- 
nately  for  himself,  he  escaped  without  detection. 

From  Corunna,  w^e  returned  to  Lisbon,  where, 
at  the  cheerful  cry  of  »  All  hands  bring  the  ship 
to  an  anchor,  ahoy!"  we  once  more  placed  our 
frigate,  taut  and  trim,  under  the  battlements  of 
the  city. 

As  servant  to  the   surgeon,  it  was  one  part  of 
my  duty   to   perform  the   task   of  carrying   his 
clothes   to   be   washed.      As   great  attention    to 
cleanliness,  in  frequently  changing  their  linen,  is 
observed  among  naval  officers,  a  good  washerwo- 
man is  considered  quite  a  desideratum.    In  attend- 
ing to  this  matter  for  my  master,  I  had  frequent 
opportunities  to  go   on   shore.      This   gave   me 
some  means  of  observation.     On  one  of  my  visits 
to   our   pretty  laundress,   I   saw   several   Portu- 
guese running   along,   gesticulating  and  talking 
with  great  earnestness.     Being  ignorant  of  their 
language,   my   washerwoman,  who   spoke   good 
English,  told  me  that  a  man  had  been   stabbed, 
in   consequence    of   some   ground   for   jealousy, 
afforded  by  the  conduct  of  the  deceased.      Hast- 
ening  to    the    spot,   I    saw   the   wounded   man, 
--^„.... ,.  ^.,,,  „,,  a  Duu,  vviiii  iwo  gapjng  wounds 
in  his  side—the  long  knife,  the  instrument  of  the 


SIX   YEARS    m   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


57 


the  wily 
garments 
he  shore. 
I  he  been 
he  would 
Fortu- 
3tection. 
n,  where, 

the  ship 
aced  our 
Tients  of 

3  part  of 
y'mg  his 
sntion    to 
linen,  is 
Eisherwo- 
n  attend- 
frequent 
^ave   me 
ny  visits 
I  Portu- 
.  talking 
of  their 
ife   good 
stabbed, 
ealousy. 
Hast- 
ed man, 
wounds 
t  of  the 


deed,  lying  by  his  side.  The  poor  sufferer  soon 
died.  What  was  done  to  the  murderer,  I  could 
not  discover. 

Though  very  passionate,  and  addicted  to  the 
use  of  the  knife,  for  the  purpose  oi^  taking  sum- 
mary vengeance,  the  Portuguese  are  nevertheless 
arrant  cowards.     Indeed,  it  is  a  question  by  no 
means  settled,  whether  all  classes  of  men,  in  any 
country,  who  fly  to    cold   steel   or  to  fire-arms 
in  every  petty  quarrel,  are  not  cowards  at  heart. 
We  had  an  evidence  of  Portuguese  cowardice  in 
an  affray  which  occurred  between  some   of  the 
citizens   of  Lisbon  and  a  party  of  our  marines. 
Six  of  the  latter,  ignorant  of  the  palace  or  mu- 
nicipal regulations,  wandered   into   the   queen's 
gardens.       Some  twenty  of  the  Portuguese,  on 
witnessing  this  bold  intrusion  on  the  privacy  of 
the  queen,  rushed  upon  them  with  long  knives. 
The  marines,  though  so  inferior  in  number,  faced 
about  Avith  their  bayonets,  and,  after  much  cursing 
and  chattering,  their  enemies,  considering  perhaps 
that  the  better  part  of  valor  is  discretion,  took  to 
their  heels,  leaving  the  six  marines  masters  of  a 
bloodless    field.      These   rencontres   were   quite 
common  between  them  and  our  men ;  the  result, 
though   sometimes  more  serious,  was  uniformly 
the  same. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  manners  of  this  peo- 
pie,  I  cannot  forbear  the  insertion  of  another  fact, 
I  was  one  day  v/alking  leisurely  along  the  streets, 
quite  at  my  case,  y/hen  the  gathering  of  a  noisy 


68 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


multitude  arrested  my  attention.     Looking  up,  I 
was  shocked  at  seeing  a  human  head,  with  a  pair 
of  hands  beneath  it,  nailed  to  a  pole  !     They  had 
just  been  taken  from  the  body  of  a  barber,  who, 
when  in  the  act  of  shaving  a  gentleman,  was  seized 
with  a  sudden  desire  to  possess  a  beautiful  watch, 
which  glittered  in  his  pocket :  to  gain  this  brilliant 
bauble,  the  wretched  man  cut  his  victim's  throat. 
He  was  arrested,  his  hands  were  cut  off,  then  his 
head,  and  both  were  fastened  to  the  pole  as  I 
have  described  them.    Upon  inquiry,  I  ascertained 
that  this  was  the  ordinary  method  of  punishing 
murder  in  Portugal ;  a  striking  evidence  that  civ- 
ilization had  not  fully  completed  its  great  work 
among  them.     Civilization  humanizes  the  feelings 
of  society,  throwing  a  veil  of  refinement  and  mercy 
over  even  the  sterner  acts  of  justice ;  at  any  rate, 
it   never   tolerates   such  barbarism  as  I  saw  at 
Lisbon. 

While  in  port  we  experienced  a  change  of  offi- 
cers by  no  means  agreeable  to  the  crew.  Mr. 
Scott,  our  first  lieutenant,  an  amiable  man,  de- 
cidedly hostile  to  the  practice  of  flogging,  left  us ; 
for  what  cause,  we  could  not  ascertain.  His  suc- 
cessor, Mr.  Hope,  though  bearing  a  very  pleasant 
name,  was  an  entirely  different  person,  in  manners 
and  conduct,  from  his  predecessor.  He  was  harsh, 
severe,  and  fond  of  seeing  the  men  flogged.  Of 
course,  floggings  became  more  frequent  than  be- 
fore •  for,  although  a  lieutenant  cannot  flog  upon  his 
own  authority,  yet,  such  is  the  influence  he  exerts 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN    OF   WAR. 


69 


dng  up,  I 
'ith  a  pair 
They  had 
:ber,  who, 
v^as  seized 
ful  watch, 
s  brilliant 
I's  throatc 
',  then  his 
3ole  as  I 
icertained 
Dunishing" 
that  civ- 
eat  work 
3  feelings 
nd  mercy 
any  rate, 
[  saw  at 

e  of  offi- 
w.  Mr. 
man,  de- 
',  left  us ; 
His  suc- 
pleasant 
manners 
as  harsh, 
•ed.  Of 
than  be- 
upon  his 
tie  exerts 


over  a  captain,  that  he  has  the  utmost  opportunity 
to  gratify  a  thirst  for  punishment.  It  may  appear 
strange  to  the  reader  that  any  gentleman— and  all 
officers  of  the  navy  consider  themselves  gentlemen 
—should  possess  such  a  thirst ;  yet  such  was  the 
case  with  Mr.  Hope.  Nor  was  his  a  solitary  exam- 
ple;  many  a  man,  who,  on  shore,  in  presence  of 
ladies  of  fashion,  appeared  too  gentle  to  harm  an 
enemy,  too  kind  to  injure  an  insect,  was  strangpiy 
metamorphosed  into  a  genuine  unprincipled  tyrant, 
upon  assuming  command  in  a  man  of  war. 

We  had  already  witnessed  a  number  of  punish- 
ments, especially  at  sea  :  in  port,  the  officers  were 
more  condescending,  lest  their  men  should  desert ; 
but  at  sea,  when  this  was  impossible,  they  flogged 
without  mercy.     Cases  of  ofTence  which  occurred 
while  in  the  harbor,  were  looked  up ;  sometimes  a 
half  dozen  were  flogged  at  once  ;  every  man  trem- 
bled lest  he  should  be  a  victim ;  the  ship's  crew 
were  made  wretched ;  a  sword  seemed  impending- 
over  every  head.     Who,  in  such  a  case,  could  be 
happy  ?     Not  even  a  sailor,  with  all  his  habitual 
thoughtlessness.     Yet  it  is  said  we  must  flog,  to 
maintain  discipline  among  sailors.   Pshaw !  Flog- 
ging may  be  needful  to  awe  a  slave  writhing  un- 
der a  sense  of  unmerited  wrong,  but  never  should  a 
lash  fall  on  a  freeman's  back,  especially  if  he  holds 
the  safety  and  honor  of  his  country  in  his  keeping. 
^  Poor  old  Bob  Hammond !     Never   was   man 
more  reckless  than  this  honest-hearted  Irishman  ; 
never  was  sailor  more  courageous  under  punish' 


M<  I  ■  lUM'miimmmmfmtmmmmitmailmtm 


€0 


A  voicR  fhom  the  main  peck. 


ment.  For  bciiinf  drunk  ho  received  four  dozen 
lashes;  he  bore  tlie  inllictiou  with  profound  silence, 
uttering  neither  irronn  nor  sin-h;  neither  casting 
one  imploring  kiok  at  his  tormentors.  On  being 
taken  down,  he  a])])licd  himself  most  lustily  to  his 
bottle,  ajid  before  night  was  drunk  again.  Rush- 
ing to  the  quarter  deck,  with  a  madness  peculiar 
to  a  phrensied  drunkard,  he  ran  up  against  the 
ca^aiu  with  such  force  thet  he  nearly  knocked 
him  down.  With  a  boldness  that  seemed  to  strike 
the  great  man  dumb,  Bob  hiccupped  and  said, 

"  Halloo,  Billy,  my  l>oy,  is  that  you  ?  You  are 
young  and  foolish ;  just  fit  for  the  launch.  You 
are  like  a  young  lion— all  your  sorrows  are  to 
come." 

The  captain  was  excessively  proud ;  even  his 
officers  scarcely  dared  walk  the  quarter  deck  on 
the  same  side  with  him.  He  never  allowed  him- 
self to  be  addressed  but  by  his  title  of  "  my  Lord." 
HI  Should  a  sailor,  through  design  or  forgetfulness, 
reply  to  a  command,  "  Yes,  sir,"  the  lordly  man 
would  look  at  him  Vv'itli  a  glance  full  of  dignity, 
and  sternly  reply,  "  What,  sir  ? "  This,  of  course, 
w^ould  put  the  olTender  in  mind  to  correct  Mmself 
hy  saying,  "  Yes,  my  Lord.''  Judge  then  of  his 
surprise,  indignation,  nay,  of  his  lordly  horror, 
when  poor  old  drunken  Bob  Hammond  called 
hhn  ^^  Billy,  my  boy!"  Doubtless  it  stirred  up 
his  nobility  within  him,  for,  with  a  voice  of  thun- 
uer,  ixe  T„.vv,i.iimcu,  1  ut  uiia  man  in  irons!"  it 
was  done.     The  next  morning,  his  back  yet  sore, 


^ 


1 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A    MAN   OF   WAU. 


61 


ur  dozen 
1  silence, 
r  casting 
)n  being 
ly  to  his 
Rush- 
peculiar 
linst  the 
Ivnockod 
to  strike 
said, 
You  are 
1.  You 
s  are  to 

!ven  his 
deck  on 
ed  him- 
r  Lord." 
tfulness, 
:lly  man 
dignity, 
'  course, 
himself 
fi  of  his 
horror, 
.  called 
rred  up 
>f  thun- 
SI"  it 
et  sore, 


poor  Bob  received  five  dozen  more  strokes  of  the 
hated  cat-o'-nine-tails.      Most  heroically  was  it 
borne.     No  sound  escaped  him ;   the  most  pro- 
found  silence  was  observed  by  all,  broken  only  by 
the  dead  sound  of  the  whip,  as  it  fell  every  few 
moments  on  the  wounded  back.     The  scene  was 
sickenmg  in  the  extreme.     Let  me  throw  a  veil 
over  Its  details,  simply  remarking  that  it  is  ques- 
tionable  which  of  the  two  appears  to  the  best  ad- 
vantage;  poor  drunken  Bob,  suffering  degradino- 
torture  with  heroic  firmness,  or  my  Lord  Fitzrov, 
gloating  on  the  scene  with  the  appetite  of  a  vul- 
ture !     Let  the  reader  decide  for  himself. 
^    These   statements   may   at   first   sight   appear 
incredible.     It  may  be  asked  how  a  man  could 
endure  whippings  which  would  destroy  an  ox  or 
a  horse.      This  is  a  very  natural  question,  and 
but  lor  the  consciousness  I  feel  of  being  supported 
in  my  statements  by  the  universal  testimony  of 
old  men-of-war's-men,  I  should  hesitate  to  publish 
them.     The  loorst  species  of  this  odious  torture, 
however,  remains  to  be  described^flogging  through 
the  fleet. 

This  punishment  is  never  inflicted  without  due 
trial  and  sentence  by  a  court-martial,  for  some 
aggravated  offence.  After  the  offender  is  thus 
sentenced,  and  the  day  amves  appointed  by  his 
judges  for  its  execution,  the  unhappy  wretch  is 
conducted  mto  the  ship's  launch-a  laro-p  honf— 
which  lias  been  previously  rigged  up  with  poles 
and  grating,  to  whi'ch  he  is  seized 


i4 


up;  he 


IS 


I  Mi 


62 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


attended  by  the  ship's  surgeon,  whose  duty  it  is 
to  decide  when  the  power  of  nature's  endurance 
has  been  taxed  to  its  utmost.  A  boat  from  every 
ship  in  the  fleet  is  also  present,  each  carrying  one 
or  two  officers  and  two  marines  fully  armed. 
These  boats  are  connected  by  tow  lines  to  the 
launch. 

These  preparations  made,  the  crew  of  the  vic- 


tim's ship  are  ordered  to  man  the  rigging. 


while 


the  boatswain  commences  the  tragedy.  When  he 
has  administered  one,  two  or  three  dozen  lashes, 
according  to  the  number  of  ships  in  the  fleet,  the 
prisoner's  shirt  is  thrown  over  his  gory  back ;  the 
boatswain  returns  on  board,  the  hands  are  piped 
down,  the  drummer  beats  a  mournful  melody, 
called  the  rogue's  march,  and  the  melancholy  pro- 
cession moves  on.  Arriving  at  the  side  of  another 
ship,  the  brutal  scene  is  repeated,  until  every  crew 
in  the  fleet  has  witnessed  it,  and  from  one  to  three 
hundred  lashes  have  lacerated  the  back  of  the 
broken-spirited  tar  to  a  bleeding  pulp.  He  is  then 
placed  under  the  surgeon's  care,  to  be  fitted  for 
duty — a  ruined  man — broken  in  spirit !  all  sense 
of  self-respect  gone,  forever  gone  !  If  he  survive, 
it  is  only  to  be  like  his  own  brave  bark,  when 
winds  and  waves  conspire  to  dash  her  on  the 
pitiless  strand,  a  wretched,  hopeless  wreck;  a 
living,  walking  shadow  of  his  former  self.  Shame- 
ful blot!  most  foul  and  disgraceful  stain  on  the 

worse  than  barbarism  will  disappear  before  the 
mild  influences  of  civilization  and  Christianity? 


SIX   YEARS    IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


63 


ity  it  is 
durance 
n  every 
ing  one 

armed. 

to  the 


the  vic- 
r,  while 
/hen  he 
lashes, 
ieet,  the 
ck ;  the 
'e  piped 
melody, 
oly  pro- 
another 
ry  crew 
to  three 
of  the 
)  is  then 
tted  for 
,11  sense 
survive, 
k,  when 
on  the 
reck ;  a 
Shame- 
on  the 
. —    *i.* 

UC       liilB 

■ore  the 
nity  ? 


No  plea  of  necessity  can  be  successfully  urged 
in  behalf  of  whipping  men  ;  for,  if  subordination 
or  faithful  adhesion  to  orders  is  expected  to  follow 
such  terrible  examples,  I  know,  from  my  acquaint- 
ance with  the  sufferers  themselves,  that  the  ex- 
pectation  is   vain.     One  of  two  results   always 
follows.     The  victim  either  lives  on,  a  lone,  dark- 
minded,  broken-spirited  man,  despising  himself 
and  hating  every  one,  because  he  thinks  every 
one  hates  him ;  or  he  lives  with  one  fearful,  un- 
yielding purpose ;  a  purpose  on  which  he  feeds 
and  nourishes  his  galled  mind,  as  food  affords  life 
and  energy  to  his  physical  constitution — that  pur- 
pose is  REVENGE.    I  havo  heard  them  swear — and 
the  wild  flashing  eye,  the  darkly  frowning  brow, 
told  how  firm  was  that  intent— that  if  ever  they 
should  be  in  battle,  they  would  shoot  their  officers. 
I  have  seen  them  rejoice  over  the  misfortunes  of 
their   persecutors,  but   more   especially   at   their 
death.     That  it  has  frequently  led  to  mutiny,  is 
well   verified.     I  have  known   such  severity   to 
result  in  actual  murder.     While  we  lay  at  Lisbon, 
a  sergeant  of  marines,  on  board  a  seventy-four, 
made  himself  obnoxious  by  repeated  acts  of  tyran- 
ny.    Two  marines   determined  upon  his  death. 
One  night,  unperceived  by  any,  they  seized  him, 
hurried  him  to  the  gangway,  and  pitched  him 
overboard.     The  tide  was  running   strong;   the 
man  was  drowned  !     But  for  themselves  his  fate 
would  have  remained  a  secret  until  the  great  day 
of  judgment;  it  was  discovered  by  an  officer,  who 


If 


64 


A   VOiCE    FEMI   THE    WAIN   DECK. 


If     ''! 


accidentally  overheard  them  congratulating  each 
other  on  their  achievcnunt.  He  betrayed  them. 
A  court-martial  sentenced  them.  They  were 
placed  on  deck  with  halters  on  their  necks.  Two 
guns  were  fired,  and,  when  the  smoke  cleared 
away,  two  men  were  seen  dangling  from  the  fore- 
yard-arm.  Only  one  day  previous,  a  letter  had 
brought  a  discharge  from  the  service  for  one  of 
them.  Poor  fellow!  it  came  too  late.  He  was 
fated  to  a  summary  discharge  from  all  service,  in 
a  manner  appalling  and  repulsive  to  every  finer 
human  feeling. 

Such  are  the  actual  consequences  of  severity  of 
discipline   on   board   men  of  war.     Punishment 
leads  to  revenge  ;  revenge  to  punishn.jnt.     What 
is  intended  to  cure,  only  aggravates  the  disease ; 
the  evil  enlarges  under  the  remedy;  voluntary 
subordination  ceases ;  gloom  overspreads  the  crew ; 
fear  fills  the  breasts  of  the  officers ;  the  ship  be- 
comes a  miniature  of  the  house  of  fiends.    While, 
on   the   other   hand,   mild   regulations,   enforced 
without  an  appeal  to  brute  force,  are  easily  carried 
into  operation.     The  sailor  has  a  warm  heart; 
show  him  personal  kindness,  treat  him  as  a  man, 
he  will  then  be  a  man ;  he  will  do  anything  for  a 
kind  officer.     He  will  peril  his  life  for  him ;  nay, 
he  will  cheerfully  rush  between  him  and  danger. 
This  was  done  at  Tripoli,  when  the  brave  James 
offered  his  own  arm  to  receive  the  fell  stroke  of  a 
Turkish  scimitar,  aimed  at  the  life  of  the  bold 
Decatur,  on  board  the  frigate  Philadelphia.     Let 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN    OP   WAR. 


65 


naval  officers,  let  all  ship-masters,  once  fairly  test 
the  efet  of  kind  treatment,  and  I  am  sure  they 
will  never  desire  to  return  to  severity ;  unless, 
indeed,  they  are  tyrants  at  heart,  in  which  case,  the 
sooner  they  lose  their  commands  the  better  for 
their  country;  for  no  tyrant  is  truly  brave  or 
trustworthy.  Cowardice  and  meanness  lie  curled 
up  in  the  heart  of  every  tyrant.  He  is  too  des- 
picable, too  unsafe  to  be  trusted  with  the  responsi- 
bihties  of  a  naval  command.  Such,  at  least,  is  the 
opinion  of  an  old  sailor. 

^  One  of  the  greatest  enemies  to  order  and  hap- 
piness in  ships  of  war  is  drunkenness.      To  be 
drunk  is  considered  hy  almost  every  sailor  as  the 
acme  of  sensual   bliss;  while  many  fancy  that 
swearing  and  drinking  are  necessary  accomplish- 
ments  in  a   genuine  man-of-war 's-man.     Hence 
It  almost  universally  prevails.     In  our  ship  the 
men  would  get  drunk,  in  defiance  of  every  restric- 
tion.    Were  it  not  for -the  moral  and  physical  ruin 
which  follows  its  use,  one  might  laugh  at  the 
various  contrivances  adopted  to  elude  the  vigilance 
of  officers  in  their  efforts  to  procure  rum.     Some 
of  our  men  who  belonged  to  the  boats'  crews  pro- 
vided themselves  with  bladders;  if  left  ashore  by 
their  officers  a  few  moments,  they  would  slip  into 
the  .irst  grocery,  fill  their  bladders,  and  return 
with   the   spoil.     Once   by  the   ship's   side,  the 
favorable  moment  was  seized  to  pass  the  inter- 
uicteu  Diaaaers  into  the  port-holes,  to  som3  watch- 
lul  shipmate,  by  whom  it  was  carefully  secreted, 
(3# 


66 


A  VOICE   FROM   Tllti,   iVAIN   DECK. 


i:ii 


to  be  dninlc  at  the  first  opportunity.  The  liberty 
to  go  on  shore,  which  is  always  granted  while  in 
port,  was  sure  to  be  abused  for  drunken  purposes. 
The  Sabbath  was  also  a  day  of  sensuality.  True, 
we  sometimes  had  the  semblance  of  religious  ser- 
vices, when  the  men  were  summoned  aft  to  hear 
the  captain  read  the  morning  service  from  the 
church  prayer-book ;  but  usually  it  was  observed 
more  as  a  day  of  revelry  than  of  worship.  But  at 
Christmas  our  ship  presented  a  scene  such  as  I 
had;  never  imagined.  The  men  were  permitted  to 
have  their  "  full  swing."  Drunkenness  ruled  the 
ship.  Nearly  every  man,  with  most  of  the  offi- 
cers, were  in  a  state  of  beastly  intoxication  at 
night.  Here,  some  were  fighting,  but  were  so 
insensibly  drunk,  they  hardly  knew  whether  they 
struck  the  guns  or  their  opponents;  yonder,  a 
party  were  singing  libidinous  or  bacchanalian 
songs,  while  all  were  laughing,  cursing,  swearing 
or  hallooing;  confusion  reigned  in  glorious  tri- 
umph ;  it  was  the  very  chaos  of  humanity.  Had 
we  been  at  sea,  a  sudden  gale  of  wind  must  have 
proved  our  destruction ;  had  we  been  exposed  to 
a  sudden  attack  from  an  enemy's  vessel,  we  should 
have  fallen  an  easy  prey  to  the  victor  ;  just  as  the 
poor  Hessians,  at  Trenton,  fell  before  the  well- 
timed  blow  of  the  sage  Washington,  during  the 
war  of  the  revolution. 

Of  all  places,  the  labors  of  temperance  men  are 
most  needed  among  sailors ;  and  I  am  glad  to  know 
that  much  has  been  accomplished  among  them 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN    OF   WAR. 


67 


J  liberty 
while  in 
urposes. 
True, 
ous  ser- 
to  hear 
rom  the 
)bserved 
But  at 
ich  as  I 
nitted  to 
uled  the 
the  ofR- 
ation  at 
were  so 
ler  they 
)nder,  a 
lanalian 
wearing 
ous  tri- 
r.  Had 
1st  have 
posed  to 
3  should 
!t  as  the 
le  well- 
ing the 


I 


already.  From  what  I  know  of  the  sufTerings  and 
difTiculties  growing  out  of  intemperance  at  sea,  I 
most  heartily  desire  to  see  a  temperance  flag  float- 
ing at  the  mast-head  of  every  ship  in  the  world. 
When  this  is  seen,  sailors  will  be  a  happier  class 
than  ever  they  have  yet  been,  from  the  time  when 
the  cautious  Phenicians  crept  timidly  round  the 
shores  of  the  Mediterranean,  to  the  present  day  of 
bold  and  fearless  navigation. 


men  are 
to  know 
g  them 


CHAPTER  III. 

An  alarm— A  bootless  cruise— Wreck— Quarrel  between 
the  captain  and  sailing-master— Its  result— Change  of 
commanders— Mr.  Hope  and  the  boys— Our  men  de- 
sert— Bloody  Dick— Happy  Jack— Attempted  suicide— 
A  negro  runs  away  and  is  retaken— Good  Friday  in  Lis- 
bon— A  perplexity  on  shore— Narrow  escape  from  be- 
ing flogged— The  press-gang— Several  Americans  im- 
pressed—Another cruise — A  terrible  storm— Loss  of  a 
man— The  author's  sickness— Black  Tom's  death  and 
burial — Another  bare  escape  from  Hogging — Another 
change  of  commanders— Severity  of  Captain  Carden's 
administration — A  brutal  sentence  on  an  alleged  thief— 
A  man  flogged  through  the  fleet— Our  drummer  de- 
mands a  court-martial— Its   unpleasant  termination 

A  question— Danger  of  attempting  mutiny— Change  in 
my  situation- The  captain's  band— Order  for  a  new 
cruise. 

Shortly  after  the  Christmas  debauch,  men- 
tioned in  the  preceding  chapter,  news  was  brought 
to  the  admiral  that  nine  French  frigates  were 
cruising  on  the  Spanish  coast :  immediately,  all 
was  excitement,  bustle,  preparation  through  the 
fleet.  The  Hannibal  and  Northumberland,  both 
seventy-four  gun  ships,  the  Caesar  of  eighty  guns, 
called  by  the  sailors  the  Old  Bull-dog,  a  gun  brig, 
and  some  others,  I  forget  the  names,  and  the 
Macedonian,  were  ordered  to  sail  in  pursuit  of 
the  French.     This  formidable  force  dropped  down 


III 


SIX   YEAllS   IN   A   MAN    OF  WAR. 


69 


[  between 
hange  of 
men  de- 
suicide — 
ly  in  Lis- 
from  be- 
cans  im- 
Loss  of  a 
leath  and 
-Another 
Garden's 
2d  thief — 
imer  de- 
ination — 
hange  in 
r  a  new 


1,  men- 
brought 
;s  were 
tely,  all 
igli  the 
id,  both 
y  guns, 
in  brig, 
ind  the 
suit  of 
d  down 


the  river,  every  man  composing  it  eagerly  desiring 
to  meet  the  enemy.     The  enterprise  however  was 
unsuccessful;  after  cruising  in  vain  for  several 
days,  the  admiral  signalled  the  fleet  to   return. 
Before  reaching  port  we  fell  in  with  a  Scotch 
ship  from  Greenock,  in  a  most  perilous  condition ; 
her  masts  and  rudder  were  gone,  while  her  nurner- 
ous  leaks  were  fast  gaining  on  the  labors  of  the 
already  exhausted  crew  at  the  pumps.     Finding 
It  utterly  impossible  to  save  the  vessel,  we  took 
off  the  crew ;  and  thus  our  cruise,  though  defeated 
m  Its  main  design,  proved  the  means  of  rescuing 
several  poor  wretches  from  a  watery  gra\e.     It  is 
a  question  worthy  of  consideration,  whether  this 
was  not  a  really  higher  result  than  if  we  had 
found  and  beaten  the  French,  and  had  returned 
in  a  crippled  state,  leaving  some  hundreds  killed 
and  wounded.     Humanity  would  answer,  yea. 

So  far  as  the  effects  of  this  cruise  concerned 
our  own  little  frigate,  they  were  really  quite  seri- 
ous.    We  were  reefing  topsails  one  night,  at  sea, 
when  the  sailing-master,  Mr.  Lewis,  in  a  fit  of  ill- 
humor,  threatened  to  flog  some  of  the  men.     The 
captain  overheard  him.     Feeling  himself  hurt  by 
this  assumption  of  his  own  prerogative,  he  told 
Mr.  Lewis  that  he  was  captain  in  that  ship,  and 
It  was  his  business  to  flog  the  men.     Sharp  words 
followed ;  the  captain  was  exasperated ;  he  ordered 
the  sailing-master  to  be  put  in  irons.     Here,  how- 
ever, he  exceeded  his  own  power,  for,  though  he 
might  place  the  common  sailor  in  irons,  he  might 


•\       ! 


70 


A   VOICE    FROBI   THE    MAIN    DECK. 


ill'  'i 


ill    I 


not  do  so  by  an  officer  with  impunity.  Accord- 
ingly, when  we  reached  Lisbon,  a  court-martial 
sat  on  the  case,  which  resulted  in  their  both  being 
broken  or  cashiered. 

This  was  a  hard  blow  for  Lord  Fitzroy,  and  he 
obviously  felt  it  most  keenly.  It  also  cut  off  my 
expectations  of  being  elevated  to  the  quarter  deck  '- 
for,  although  I  had  never  received  any  direct 
encouragement  from  his  Lordship,  yet  I  had 
always  nourished  the  hope  that  ultimately  he 
would  keep  the  promise  he  made  to  my  mother, 
and  do  something  for  my  advancement.  Now, 
however,  my  hopes  were  destroyed.  I  was 
doomed  to  the  forecastle  for  life. 

Lord  Fitzroy  was  succeeded  by  Captain  Carson. 
He  however  was  soon  removed  to  make  way  for 
Captain  Waldgrave,  who  proved  to  be  far  more 
severe  than  Fitzroy.  He  and  Lieutenant  Hope 
were  kindred  spirits :  cruelty  seemed  to  be  their 
delight,  for  at  the  presence  of  culprits  tied  to  the 
gratings,  a  gleam  of  savage  animation  stole  over 
their  faces.  Punishment  was  now  an  almost 
every-day  scene ;  even  the  boys  were  not  per- 
mitted to  escape.  A  lad  was  appointed  boatswain 
over  them,  and  they  were  consigned  to  the  care  of 
Mr.  Hope,  who  took  especial  delight  in  seeing 
them  flogged.  What  a  mean,  dastardly  spirit  for 
a  British  officer !  How  utterly  contemptible  he 
appears  engaged  in  whipping  a  few  helpless  sailor 
bovs  !  Yet  thus  he  did  constnnt.1v  annear.  causing* 
them  to  be  flogged  for  every  trifling  oflence.     One 


Accord- 
t-martial 
)th  being 

j^  and  he 
it  off  my 
ter  deck ; 
ly  direct 
t  I  had 
ately  he 
'  mother, 
;.  Now, 
I    was 

I  Carson. 

way  for 
far  more 
int  Hope 

be  their 
ed  to  the 
tole  over 
1  almost 
not  per- 
oatswain 
e  care  of 
n  seeing 
spirit  for 
ptible  he 
3SS  sailor 
,  causing* 

;e.     One 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


71 


I 


poor  little  fellow,  unable  to  tolerate  the  thought  of 
the  lash,  hid  himself  in  the  cable  tier  for  several 
days.  He  was  discovered,  only  to  be  most  shame- 
fully punished. 

These  severities  filled  our  crew  with  discour- 
agement.    A  sailor  dreads  the  dishonor  of  the 
lash.     Some,  urged  by  a  nice  sense  of  honor,  have 
preferred  death  to  its  endurance.     I  have  heard  of 
one  man  who  actually  loaded  himself  with  shot 
and  deliberately  walked  overboard.     Among  our 
ship's  company  the  effects  of  these  severe  meas- 
ures showed  themselves  in  frequent  desertions, 
notwithstanding  the  great  risk  run  by  such  a  bold 
measure ;  for,  if  taken,  they  were  sure  to  meet 
with  a  fearful  retribution.     Still,  many  preferred 
the  chance  of  freedom ;   some  ran  off  when  on 
shore  with  the  boats,  others  dropped  overboard 
in  the  night,  and  either  swam  on  shore  or  were 
drowned.     Many  others  were  kept  from  running 
away  by  the  strength  of  their  attachment  to  their 
old  messmates  and  by  the  hope  of  better  days. 
Of  those  who  escaped,  some  were  retaken  by  the 
Portuguese,  who  delighted  to  hunt  them  up  for  a 
small  sum  of  money.     Two   of  my  messmates, 
named  Robert  Bell  and  James  Stokes,  were  taken 
in  this  manner.     I  felt,  greatly  affected  at  losing 
their  company,  for  they  were  pleasant  fellows.     I 
felt  a  peculiar  attachment  to  poor  Stokes ;  he  had 
taught  me  many  things  which  appertain  to  sea- 
manship, and  had  cared  for  my  interests  with  the 
faithfulness  of  a  parent.     0  how  anxiously  did  I 


72 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


!i|''; 


desire  they  might  not  be  detected,  because  I  knew, 
if  they  were,  that  they  were  doomed  men.  But 
they  were  taken  by  a  band  of  armed  Portuguese ; 
barefooted,  desponding,  broken  in  spirit,  they  were 
brought  on  board,  only  to  be  put  in  irons  immedi- 
ately. By  a  fortunate  chance  they  escaped  with 
fiftij  lashes,  instead  of  being  flogged  through  the 
fleet. 

We  had  another  man  who  escaped,  named 
Richard  Suttonwood;  he  was  very  profane,  and 
was  much  in  the  habit  of  using  the  word  "  bloody ;" 
hence  he  was  nicknamed  "  Bloody  Dick  "  by  his 
shipmates.  Well,  Dick  ran  off.  He  succeeded 
in  getting  on  board  an  English  brig  in  the  mer- 
chant service.  But  how  chop-fallen  was  poor 
Dick  when  he  found  that  this  brig  was  laden  with 
powder  for  his  own  frigate  !  Resolving  to  make 
the  best  of  the  matter,  he  said  nothing  of  his  rela- 
tion to  our  frigate,  but  as  soon  as  the  brig  dropped 
alongside  of  the  Macedonian,  he  came  on  board 
and  surrendered  himself;  by  this  means  he  es- 
caped being  flogged,  as  it  was  usual  to  pardon  a 
runaway  who  voluntarily  returned  to  his  duty. 
The  crew  were  all  delighted  at  his  return,  as  he 
was  quite  popular  among  them  for  his  lively  dispo- 
sition and  his  talents  as  a  comic  singer,  which  last 
gift  is  always  highly  prized  in  a  man  of  war.  So 
joyous  were  we  all  at  his  escape  from  punishment, 
that  we  insisted  on  his  giving  a  concert,  which 
went  oiF  vvreli.  Seated  on  a  gun  surrounded  by 
scores  of  the  men,  he  sung  a  variety  of  favorite  songs, 


I 


V  \  ■ 

ft 


■m 


# 


SIX   YEARS    IN   A    MAN    OF    WAR. 


73 


I  knew, 
n.     But 

;uguese ; 
ley  were 
immedi- 
)ed  with 
►ugh  the 

,  named 
ane,  and 
Dloody;" 
"  by  his 
icceeded 
he  mer- 
^as  poor 
ien  with 
to  make 
his  rela- 
dropped 
on  board 
3  he  es- 
)ardon  a 
lis  duty, 
•n,  as  he 
ly  dispo- 
hich  last 
^■ar.  So 
ishment, 
t,  which 
nded  hy 
,te  songs, 


amid  the  plaudits  and  encores  of  his  rough  audi- 
tors. 

By  such  means  as  these,  sailors  contrive  to 
keep  up  their  spirits  amidst  constant  causes  of 
depression  and  misery.     One  is  a  good  singer, 
another  can  spin  tough  forecastle  yarns,  while  a 
third  can  crack  a  joke  with  sufficient  point  to  call 
out  roars  of  laughter.     But  for  these  interludes, 
life  in  a  man  of  war,  with  severe  officers,  would 
be   absolutely   intolerable;    mutiny   or   desertion 
would  mark   the   voyages   of  every  such   ship. 
Hence,  officers  in  general  highly  value  your  jolly, 
merry-making,  don't-care  sort  of  seamen.      They 
know  the  effect  of  their  influence  in  keeping  away 
discontented  thought  from  the  minds  of  a  ship's 
company.     One  of  these   official   favorites   paid 
our  frigate  a  visit  while  we  lay  at  Lisbon.     We 
had  just  finished  breakfast,  when  a  number  of 
our  men  were  seen  running  in  high  glee  towards 
the  main  hatchway.     Wondering  what  Avas  going 
forward,  I  watched  their  proceedings  with  a  curi- 
ous eye.     The  cause  of  their  joy  soon  appeared 
in  the  person  of  a  short,  round-faced,  merry-look- 
ing tar,  who  descended  the  hatchway  amid  cries 
of  '<  Hurrah  I  here  's  happy  Jack ! "  As  soon  as  the 
jovial  little  man  had  set  hts  foot  on  the  berth  deck, 
he  began  a  specimen  of  his  vocal  powers.     The 
voice  of  song  was  as  triumphant  on  board  the 
Macedonian,  as  it  was  in  days  of  yore  in  the  halls 
of  Ossian.     Every  voice  was  hushed,  all  work 
was  brought  to  a  stand  still,  while  the  crew  gath- 


i 
i 


'J 


11  ■ 


m 


M 


74 


A    VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN    DECK. 


cred  round  their  favorite,  in  groups,  to  listen  to 
his  unequalled  perforniiinces.  liajipy  Jack  suc- 
ceeded, while  his  visit  lasted,  in  communicalinff 
Jiis  own  joyous  feelin^rs  to  our  people,  and  they 
parted  from  him  at  night  with  deep  regret. 

A  casual  visitor  in  a  man  of  war,  heholding  the 
song,  the  dance,  the  revelry  of  the  crew,  might 
judge  them  to  be  happy.  But  I  know  that  these 
things  are  often  resorted  to,  because  they  feel 
miserable,  just  to  drive  away  dull  care.  They  do 
it  on  the  same  principle  as  the  slave  population  in 
the  South,  to  drown  in  sensual  gratification  the 
voice  of  misery  that  groans  in  the  inner  man — 
that  lives  within,  speaking  of  the  indignity  offered 
to  its  high  nature  by  the  chain  that  eats  beyond 
the  flesh — discoursing  of  the  rights  of  man,  of 
liberty  on  the  free  hills  of  a  happier  clime  :  while 
amidst  the  gayest  negro  dance,  not  a  heart  among 
the  laughing  gang  but  would  beat  with  high 
emotions,  and  seize  the  boon  with  indescribable 
avidity,  should  it  be  offered  its  freedom  on  the 
spot.  So  in  a  man  of  war,  where  severe  disci- 
pline prevails,  though  cheerfulness  smiles  at 
times,  it  is  only  the  forced  merriment  of  minds  ill 
at  ease;  minds  that  would  gladly  escape  the 
thraldom  of  the  hated  service  to  which  they  are 
bound. 

Nor  is  this  forced  submission  to  circumstances 
universal.  There  are  individuals  who  cannot  be 
reaciieu.  uy  tnese  pleasantries  ;  in  spite  of  every- 
thing, their  spirits  w^ill  writhe  under  the  gripe 


J 


SIX    YEARS    IN    A    MAN    OF    WAR. 


76 


istcn  to 

licaling 
id  they 


mg  the 
,  might 
it  these 
oy  feel 
'hey  do 
ition  ill 
ion  the 
man — 
ofTered 
beyond 
lan,  of 
:  while 
among 

1  high 
:ribable 
on  the 

2  disci- 
iles  at 
inds  ill 
pe  the 
ley  are 

stances 

mot  be 

every- 

gripe 


of  merciless  authority.      Wo  had  a  melancholy 
instance  of  this   species  of  mind  on  board  our 
frigate.     His  name  was  Hill,  the  ward-room  stew- 
ard.    This  mnn  came  on  board  with  a  resolute 
purpose  to   give  satisfaction,  if  possible,  to  his 
superiors.     He  tried  his  utmost  in  vain.     He  was 
still  scolded  and  cursed,  until  his  condition  seemed 
uncM  lurablo.      One  morning  a  boy  entered  the 
after  ward-room,  when  the  first  object  that  met 
his  astonished  eye  was  the  body  of  the  steward, 
all  ghastly  arul  bleeding.     He  had  cut  his  throat,' 
and  lay  weltering  in  his  gore.     The  surgeon  was 
called,  who  pronounced  him  to  be  yet  alive.     The 
wound  was  sewed  up,  the  poor  sufferer  carried  to 
the  hospital-ship,  which  v/as  in  attendance  on  the 
fleet,  where  he  recovered,  to  be  returned  to  his 
former  ship,  though  in  another  and  worse  capa- 
city,  that  of  common  sailor. 

We  had  on  board  a  colored  man  whose  name 
was  Nugent,  who  possessed  a  remarkably  fine 
person,  was  very  intelligent,  exceedingly  polite  in 
his  manners,  and  easy  in  his  address.  He  soon 
grew  weary  of  the  caprices  of  our  officers,  and  ran 
away.  He  was  taken,  however,  in  rather  a  curi- 
ous manner.  The  officers  frequently  walked  the 
deck  with  their  spy-glasses.  As  one  of  them 
was  spending  a  few  leisure  moments  in  looking 
at  the  surrounding  shipping,  what  should  appear 
withm  the  field  of  his  glass,  but  the  person  of  the 
fugitive  Nugent  on  the  deck  of  an  American 
vessel !     Upon  this,  a  boat  was  desj^atched,  which 


Tf    I 


76 


A    VOICE    FROM    THE    MAIN    DECK. 


Hi 


soon  returned  'witli  the  crest-fallen  deserter,  who 
was  unceremoniously  thrown  into  irons.  By 
some  fortunate  chance,  liowever,  he  escaped  a 
ilogging. 

Of  course,  my  situation  was  as  unpleasant  as 
that  of  any  other  person  on  board.  I  could  not 
witness  the  discomfort  and  ill-usage  of  others, 
without  trembling  for  my  own  back.  I,  too,  had 
thoughts  of  running  away,  as  opportunities  fre- 
quently offered  themselves.  But,  being  ignorant 
of  the  Portuguese  language,  I  wisely  concluded 
that  my  condition  among  them,  if  I  got  clear, 
would,  in  respect  to  my  present  state,  bear  about 
the  same  analogy  as  the  fire  does  to  the  frying- 
pan.  My  little  adventures  on  shore  gave  me  full 
assurance  of  this  fact.  I  remember  going  ashore 
on  Good  Friday.  Like  good  Catholics,  the  Por- 
tuguese had  the  masts  of  their  vessels  crossed, 
with  effigies  of  the  trnitor  Judas  hanging  very 
significantly  at  their  jib-booms.  On  shore,  they 
were  exhibiting  the  blasphemous  mimicry  of  the 
solemn  scene  of  the  crucifixion.  One  was  bear- 
ing till  cross,  another  a  sponge,  a  third  the  vine- 
gar. The  streets  were  crowded  with  images  of 
the  saints,  to  which  all  reverently  bowed.  Wo 
betide  that  sacrilegious  wretch  who  refused  this 
tribute  to  their  darling  images.  He  was  sure  of 
being  knocked  down ;  he  tvas  not  sure  of  getting 
home  alive.  I  was  fain  to  vield  mv  knees  to 
save  my  skull;  so  for  the  time  I  was  as  good  a 
Catholic  as  ai  •-  of  them,  at  least  in  the  matter 


; 


V' 


ar,  who 
..      By 

aped  a 

sant  as 

uld  not 

others, 

00,  had 
ies  fre- 
Dfnoraiit 
icluded 
t  clear, 
r  about 
frying- 
me  full 

ashore 
le  Por- 
:rossed, 
g  very 
•e,  they 
'  of  the 
s  hear- 
le  vine- 
ges  of 

1.  Wo 
ed  this 
sure  of 
gettingf 
lees  to 
good  a 
matter 


SIX   YEARS    IN    A    MAN    OF   WAR. 


77 


of  bowing  and  crossing:    it  wtis  done,  however 
willi  tnuj  JVotc'staiit  menljii  reservfition,  and  wit 
a  sincere  (Icterininalion  to  prefer  my  man-of-war' 
life  to  a  life  in  Portugal. 

On  an(;ther  occasion,  some  of  our  officers  took 
mc  on  shore  to  help  them  attend  to  some  pur- 
chases. After  following  them  a  considerable 
distance,  they  gave  me  a  small  commission  to 
execute,  with  directions  to  return  to  the  ship  as 
soon  as  it  was  attended  to.  This  was  no  easy 
task,  however :  they  had  conducted  me  to  a 
strange  part  of  the  city,  and  I  knew  scarcely  a 
word  of  Portuguese.  There  I  stood,  then,  sur- 
rounded only  by  foreigners,  who  neither  understood 
my  language  nor  I  theirs.  All  I  knew  of  my 
destination  was,  that  our  boat  lay  near  the  Fish- 
market ;  so,  for  the  Fish-market  I  inquired. 
Speaking  in  English,  I  asked  the  first  man  I  met 
to  direct  me.  He  looked  at  me  with  the  empty 
stare  of  an  idiot,  and  passed  on.  To  the  next,  I 
said,  partly  in  broken  Portuguese  and  partly  in 
my  own  tongue,  "John,"  (they  call  everybody 
John,  whose  true  name  they  do  not  know,)  "do 
show  me  the  fish-market."  He  could  not  under- 
stand me ;  so,  shrugging  his  shoulders,  he  said, 
"  No  entender  Enghs,"  and  passed  on.  I  asked 
several  others,  but  invariably  received  a  shrug 
of  the  shoulder,  a  shake  of  the  head,  and  a  "  no 
entender  Englis,"  for  an  answer.  I  grew  des* 
perate,  and  began  to  feel  as  if  I  had  lost  my- 
self, when,  to  my  unutterable  satisfaction,  I  saw  an 
7# 


78 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   I>ECK. 


English  soldior.  I  ran  up  to  him  and  said,  "Good 
^.'<•^'  to  you;  do  tell  mo  where  the  fish-inarket  is, 
these  stupid  Portuouese,  bad  hick  to  them, 
can't  understand  a  word  I  say  ;  but  it  is  all,  no 
entender  En^lis."  My  countryman  laughed  at 
seeing  my  English  tempei  ru filed,  and  placed  me 
in  the  way  of  reaching  the  fish-market.  I  hurried 
thither,  when,  to  my  chagrin,  the  boats  were  all 
gone.  Here,  then,  was  another  difficulty;  lor, 
though  there  were  plenty  of  Portuguese  boatmen, 
they  could  not  understand  which  ship  I  wished 
to  reach.  Here,  however,  my  fingers  did  what 
my  tongue  refused;  our  ship  had  its  mainmast 
ou^  «o,  holding  up  two  fingers  and  pointing  to 
the  mast,  they  at  last  comprehended  me  md  con- 
veyed me  on  board.  Coming  alongside,  I  gave 
them  what  I  thought  was  right ;  but  they  and  I 
differed  in  opinion  on  that  point ;  they  demanded 
more,  with  considerable  bluster,  but  the  sentry 
shouted,  "  Shove  oil*  there  ! "  and  pointed  his  mus- 
ket at  them.  Whether  they  thought  a  reasonable 
fee,  and  a  timely  retreat,  better  than  a  contest 
which  might  give  them  the  taste  of  a  musket-ball, 
I  cannot  determine ;  at  all  events,  I  know  that 
boat  ne\  er  left  ship  faster  than  theirs,  when  they 
beheld  the  gleam  of  the  sentry's;  musket  flashing 
on  their  dark  faces. 

Just  after  this  adventure,  I  came  very  near 
being  flogged,  to  my  no  small  alarm.  Happening 
on  shore  w^ith  two  more  of  the  officers'  servants, 
named  Yates  and  Skinner,  we  stayed  so  late,  the 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


79 


"Good 
irket  is, 
')  them, 

all,  no 
▼hrd  at 
iced  me 
hurried 
i^ere  all 
ty;  for, 
"latmen, 
wished 
d  what 
liniiiast 
ting  to 
[id  con- 
I  gave 
'  and  I 
[nanded 

sentry 
is  mus- 
sonable 
contest 
cet-ball, 
)w  that 
3n  they 
lashing 

y  near 
ipening 
jrvants, 
ite,  the 


ship's  boats  had  all  gone  off.  Finding  the  boats 
gone,  we  strayed  back  into  the  city;  night  came 
on,  and  oi  r  return  until  morning  was  impossible. 
We  had  to  wander  about  the  city  all  night,  in  con- 
stant fear  of  being  apprehended  by  the  Portuguese 
as  deserters.  To  prevent  this  no  very  desirable 
result,  my  comrade;  made  me  a  midshipman ;  for 
the  satisfactory  reason,  that  if  an  officer  was  sup- 
posed to  be  in  our  company,  no  one  would  trouble 
us.  The  sum  »ary  process  by  which  I  was 
inducted  into  my  new  st;  lion,  was  by  means  of 
.  stripe  carefully  marked  on  my  collar  with  a 
piece  of  chalk,  to  imitate  the  silver  lace  on  a 
middy's  coat.  hus  exalted,  I  marched  my  com- 
pany about  Lisbon  until  dawn,  when  I  again 
found  myself  the  self-same  Samuel  Leech,  ser- 
vant to  the  surgeon  of  H.  M.  Frigate  Macedonian, 
that  I  was  the  previous  evening,  with  this  addi- 
tional fact,  however,  I  was  now  liable  to  be  flog- 
ged. So,  in  the  true  spirit  of  a  J(  ^emy  Sneak, 
we  went  on  boar  .,  v/here,  with  due  v  remony,  we 
were  parted  for  separate  examinations.  What 
tale  my  fellow- wanderers  invented,  I  know  not ; 
for  my  own  part,  1  told  the  truth  of  the  liiatter, 
excepting  thav  1  suppressed  that  part  of  it  which 
related  to  mv  transformation  into  an  officer. 
Luckily  for  u.  all,  one  of  the  pu  ly  was  liie  tirst 
lieutenant's  servant ;  if  he  flogged  one,  he  must 
flog  the  wnole.  To  save  the  back  c  f  his  own 
'loy,  he  let  us  all  escape. 
We  wei   now  ordered  on  another  cruise.    Bei-ig 


80 


I  I 


I 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN    DECK. 


in  want  of  men,  we  resorted  to  the  press-rranir, 

which  was  made  up  of  our  most  loyal  men,  armed 

to  the  tteth ;  by  their  aid  we  obtained  our  full 

numbers.     Among  them  were  a  few  Americans; 

they  were  taken  without  respect  to  their  protec 

tions,  which  wore  often  taken   from   them   and 

destroyed.      Some    were    released    throu"-h    the 

influence  of  the  American  consul;    others,  less 

fortunate,  were  carried  to  sea,  to  their  no  small 

chagrin.^ 

The   duties  of  the   press-gang-   completed,  we 
once  more  weighed   anchor,  and  were  soon  ca- 
reering before  the  gales  of  the  bay  of  Biscay.    Our 
reception  in  this  proverbially  stormy  bay  was  by 
no  means  a  civil  one.     We  met  with  an  extraor- 
dmarily  severe  gale,  in  which  we  came  very  near 
foundering.     We  had  just  finished  dinner,  when 
a  tremendous  sea  broke  over  us,  pouring  down 
the  hatchway,  sweeping  the  galley  of  all  its  half- 
cooked  contents,  then  being  prepared  for  the  ofH- 
cers'  dinner,  and  covering  the  berth  deck  with  a 
perfect  flood.     It  seemed  as  if  old  Neptune  really 
intended  that  wave   to  sink  us  to  Davy  Jones' 
locker.     As  the  water  rolled  from  side   to  side 
wuhin,  and  the  rude  waves  without  beat  a^^ainst 
her,  our  good  ship  trembled  from  stem  to  "stern, 

*  To  prevent  the  recovery  of  these  men  by  their  consul 

he  press-gang  usually  went  ashore  on  the  night  previous 

0  our  going  to  sea ;  so  that  before  they  M'ere  missed  they 

were  beyond  hi.  protection.    Sometimes  thev  wPr.  .i.^fJ 

on  our  return  to  port.  '  *^"    " 


<0      . 


ss-g-ang, 
1,  armed 
our  full 
ericans; 
protec- 
)m  and 
gh  the 
irs,  less 
0  small 

ted,  we 
)on  ca- 
^    Our 
was  by 
xtraor- 
■y  near 
,  when 
down 
;s  half- 
16  ofH- 
^vith  a 
really 
Jones' 
3  side 
gainst 
stern, 

:onsul, 
evious 
d  they 


I  '  t     ':    ■ 

u 


Wm 


82 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A    MAN   OF   WAR. 


and  seemed  like  a  human  bcinrr  gasping  for  breath 
m  a  stniffglo  with   death.      The  women  (there 
were  several  on  board)  set  up  a  shriek,  a  thin^ 
they  had  never  done  before ;    some  of  the  men 
turned  pale ;  others  cursed  and  tried  to  say  witty 
ihmgs  ;  the  officers  started  ;  orders  ran  along  the 
ship  to  man  the  chain-pumps,  and  to  cut  holes 
through  the  berth  deck  to  let  the  water  into  the 
hold.      These   orders  being  rapidly  obeyed,  the 
ship  was  freed  from  her  danger.     The  confusion 
of  the  moment  was  followed   by  laughino-  and 
pleasantries.     That  gale  was  long  spoken  °of  as 
one  of  great  danger. 

It  is  strange  that  sailors,  who  see  so  much  peril, 
should  treat   religion  with  such  neglect  as  it  is 
usual  for  them  to  do.     When  danger  is  imminent, 
they  send  up  a  cry  for  help  ;  when  it  is  past,  they 
rarely  return  a  grateful  thank-offering.     Yet  how 
truly  and  eloquently  has  the  Psalmist  shown,  in 
the  107th  Psalm,  what  should  be  the  moral  effect 
ot  the  wonders  of  the  deep.     What  but  a  deep- 
rooted  spiritual  perversity  prevents  such  an  effect? 
The  next  incident  that  disturbed  the  monotony 
of  our  sea-life,  was  of  a  melancholy  character. 
We  had  been  giving  chase  to  two  West  Indiamen 
the  whole  of  one  Sabbath  afternoon ;  at  night  it 
blowed  so  hard  we  had  to  reef  top-sails ;  when  a 
poor  fellow,  named  John  Thomson,  was  knocked 
from  the  yard.    In  falling,  he  struck  some  part  of 
the  ship,  and  the  wave  which  opened  to  receive 
him,  never  disclosed  his  form  again.     He  was  a 


SIX    YEARS   IN    A    MAN    OF   WAK. 


83 


pressed  man,  an  American  by  birth,  greatly  be- 
loved by  his  messmates,  by  whom  his  death  was 
as  severely  felt  as  when  a  member  of  a  family 
dies  on  shore.  His  loss  created  a  dull  and  gloomy 
atmosphere  throughout  the  ship:  it  was  several 
days  before  the  hands  regained  their  wonted  elas- 
ticity of  mind  and  appearance. 

My  recollections  of  this  cruise  are  very  feeble 
and   indistinct,  owing  to  a  severe  injury  which 
confined  mo   to  my  hammock  nearly  the  whole 
penod.     The  accident  which  ended  in  a  severe 
illness  had  its  origin  in  the  following  manner. 
The  duty  of  cleaning  knives,  plates,  dish-covers, 
&c.,  for  the  ward-room,  devolved  alternately  on 
the  boys  employed  in   the  ward-room.     Having 
fin  shed  this  task,  one  day,  in  my  regular  turn, 
the  ward-room  steward,  a  little  hot-headed  Malay, 
came   to  me  at  dinner  time  to  inquire  for  the 
knives.     Not  recollecting  for  the  moment,  I  made 
no  reply ;   when  he   angrily  pushed  me  over  a 
sack  of  bread.     In  falling,  my  head  came  in  con- 
tact with  the  corner  of  a  locker.     Feeling  much 
pain,  and  the  blood  flowing  freely,  I  went  to  Mr. 
Marsh,  the  surgeon's  mate,  who  dressed  it,  and 
bade  me  take  care  of  it.     Probably  it  would  have 
healed  speedily  but  for  the  freak  of  a  sailor  a  few 
days   after,   while  holy-stoning  the   decks.      By 
holy-stoning,  I  mean  cleaning  them  with  stones, 
which  are  used  for  this  purpose  in  men  of  war. 
Ihese  stones  are,  some  of  them,  large,  ivith  a  rino- 

at  each  pnH  "nfV»  *»  ^r^-n^  ^n-iii.. i   i         ^  .  ,    .    . 

-„-i_   ,..a    „i.«  ^  iv/|/c  auaci|p«j  oy  wilicll  it  IS 


*■< 


'  !?■# 


I 


I 


84 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN    DECK. 


pulled  backwards  and  forwards  on  the  wet  decks. 
These  large   stones  are   called  holy  bibles  ;  the 
smaller  hand  ones  are  also  called  holy-stones,  or 
prayer-books,  their  shape  beinir  sometliing  like  a 
book.     After  the  decks  are  well  rubbed  with  these 
stones,  they  are  wiped  dry  with  swabs  made  of 
rope-yarns.     By  this  means  the  utmost  cleanliness 
is  preserved  in  the  ship.     It  was  customary  in 
our  ship,  during-  this  scrubbing  process,  for  the 
boys  to  wash  themselves  in  a  large  tub  provided 
for  the  purpose  on  the  main  deck.     The  men  de- 
lighted in  sousing  us  with  water  during  this  ope- 
ration.    After  bf^jng  wounded,  a?  just  mentioned,  I 
endeavored  to  avoid  their  brjr  y  libations ;  but  one 
morning,  one  of  the  sailors,  seeing  my  anxiety, 
crept  slily  up  behind  me,  and  emptied  a  pail  of 
water  directly  over  my  head.     That  night  1  Itegan 
both  to  look  and  to  feel   sick.     My  messmates 
m\d  I  was  sea-sick,  and  laughed  at  me.     Fe^m^ 
violent  pains  in  my  head,  ears  and  neck,  I  (tM 
relieved  when  it  was  time  to  turn  in.     The  next 
morning,  being  rather  behind  my  usual  time  in 
waiting  upon  the  surgeon,  ho  began  to  scold  me. 
I  told  him  I  was  unwell.     He  felt  my  pulse,  ex- 
amined my  tongue,  and  excused  me.     Growing 
worse,   my  messmates  got  down  my  hammock. 
I  entered  it  very  sick  ;  my  head  and  face  swelling 
very  Iprge,  and  my  eyes  so  sunken  I  could  scarc;ely 
see.  1 

I  remained  in  this  sad  situation  seVerol^l-eeks, 
carefully  attended  by  the  surgeon,  anitoatched  bv 


^^ 


SIX    YEARS    IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


85 


t  decks, 
es  ;  the 
ones,  or 
T  like  a 
th  these 
lade  of 
mliness 
nary  in 
for  the 
rovided 
len  de- 
lis ope- 
ioned,  I 
but  one 
inxiety, 
paii  of 
(  \>eg3.fi 

,  I  m 

le  next 
ime  in 
)ld  me. 
Ise,  ex- 
rowing 
amock. 
»vellmg 
carcaely 

^eeks, 
liedbv 


the  men  as  tenderly  as  their  rough  hands  could 
perform    the    office   of  nurse.     My  destiny  was 
considered  as  being  sealed,  both  by  the  crew  and 
by  myself.     I  was  much  troubled  at  the  thought 
of  dying:  it  seemed  dark  and  dreary  to  enter  the 
valley  of  the  shadow  of  death  without  the  pres- 
ence of  a   Saviour.     To  relieve  my  feelings,  I 
frequently  repeated  the  Lord's  prayer,  taugk  me 
by  my  indulgent  mother  in  my  earlier  and  brighter 
years.     But  my  mind  was  dark  and  disconsolate  ; 
there  were    none    among  that   kind-hearted   but 
profligate  crew  to  point  my  soul  to  its  proper  rest. 
While  lying  in  this  state,  my  life  hanging  in  a 
doubtful  balance,  one  of  the  crew,  named  Black 
Tom,  an  African,  was  taken  sick.     His  hammock 
was  hung  up  in  the  sick  bay,  a  part  of  the  main 
deck   appropriated    to    hospital   purposes.      Poor 
Tom,  having  a  constitution  already  undermined 
by  former  excesses,  soon  fell  under  the  attack  of 
disease.     He  was  then  sewed  up  in  his  hammock, 
with  some  shot  at  his  feet :  at  sundown  the  ship's 
bell  pealed  a  melancholy  note,  the  ship  was  «  hove 
to,"  all   hands   mustered  on    deck,    but   myself; 
and,  amid  the  most  profound  silence,  the  body  of 
the  departed  bailor  was  laid  upon  the  grating  and 
launched  into  the  great  deep,  the  resting-place  of 
many  a  bold  head.     A  plunge,  a  sudden  openino- 
m   the    water,    foliowod    by   an   equally    sudden 
return  of  the  disparted   waves,  and   Black  Tom 
was  gone  forever  from  hit  shipmates  !     In  a  few 
momenta  the  vards  w^ra  hmnc^A  v«,.,^.i j  -..^ 


86 


}.' .  i. 


A    VOICE    FROM    THE    MAIN    DECK. 


frigate  was  cutting  her  way  again  through  the 
wide  ocean  waste.  It  seemed  to  me  that  she  was 
soon  destined  to  heave  to  again,  that  I  might  also 
be  consigned  to  nn  ocean  grave.  But  in  this  I  was 
happily  disappointed.  By  the  blessing  of  a  watch- 
ful Providence,  the  aid  of  a  sound  constitution, 
assisted  by  the  skill  of  our  surgeon  and  the  kind- 
ness of  my  shipmates,  I  was  at  last  able  to  leave 
my  hammock.  Shortly  after  our  return  to  Lisbon, 
I  was  pronounced  fit  for  duty,  and  the  surgeon 
having  obtained  another  boy,  I  was  placed  on  the 
quarter  deck,  in  the  capacity  of  messenger,  or 
errand  boy  for  the  captain  and  his  officers. 

With  my  return  to  active  life,  came  my  expos- 
ure to  hardships,  and,  what  I  dreaded  still  more, 
to  punishment.  Some  of  the  boys  were  to  be 
punished  on  the  main  deck ;  the  rest  were  ordered 
forward  to  witness  it,  as  usual.  Being  so  far  aft 
that  I  could  not  hear  the  summons,  as  a  matter 
of  course,  I  remained  at  my  post.  The  hawk-eye 
of  the  lieutenant  missed  me,  and  in  a  rage  he 
ordered  me  to  be  sent  for  to  receive  a  flogging  for 
my  absence.  Excuse  was  vain;  for,  such  was  the 
fiendish  temper  of  this  brutal  officer,  he  only 
wanted  the  shadow  of  a  reason  for  dragging  the  poor 
helpless  boys  of  his  charge  to  the  grating.  While 
I  stood  in  trembling  expectation  of  being  degraded 
by  the  hated  cat,  a  summons  from  the  captain 
providentially  called  off*  our  brave  boy-flogger,  and 
I  escaped.  The  offence  was  never  mentioned 
afterwards.     The  reader  can  easily  nerceive  how 


^!* 


r?! 


if 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OP   WAR. 


87 


igh  the 
she  was 
^ht  also 
is  I  was 
.  watch- 
titiition, 
le  kind- 
;o  leave 
Lisbon, 
mrgcon 
on  the 
ger,  or 

expos- 
l  more, 
!  to  be 
3rdered 

far  aft 

matter 
wk-eye 
age  he 
:ing  for 
va's  the 
e  only- 
he  poor 

While 
graded 
captain 
er,  and 
itioned 
re  how 


such  a  constant  exposure  to  the  lash  must  em- 
bitter a  seaman's  life. 
^        Already,   since   the   Macedonian  had  been  in 
commission,   had    she    changed    captains    twice. 
Why  It  so  happened,  it  is  not  in  my  power  to 
explain ;  but  while  at  Lisbon,  after  the  cruise  last 
mentioned,  our  present  captain  was  superseded  by 
Captain  John  S.  Garden.     His  arrival  excited  a 
transitory  hope  of  a  brighter  lot,  as  he  was  an 
older  man  than  the  others,  and,  as  we  vainly 
trusted,  a  kinder  one.     Here,  however,  we  were 
mistaken;   he   was   like   all   the  rest,  the  same 
heartless,  unfeeling  lover  of  whip  discipline.     At 
hrst  tne  men  under  sentence  tried  their  powers  at 
flattery  with  the  grave  old  man;  but  he  was  too 
experienced  a  soa-dog.  to  be  cajoled  by  a  lone 
laced  sailor  under  sentence-:  when,  therefore,  they 
told  him  he  was  a  kind-hearted  fatherly  o-entle- 
man,  he  only  replied  by  a  most  provoking  lauo-h, 
and  by  saying,  they  were  a  set  of  very  undutiful 
sons. 

^    Captain  Garden  was  mercilessly  severe  in  pun- 
ishing theft.      He  would  on  no  account   forgive 
any  man  for  this  crime,  but  would  flog  the  thief 
almost  to  death.     Of  this,  we  soon  had  a  cruel 
instance.      A  midshipman  named  Gale,  a  most 
rascally,  unprincipled    fellow,   found  his   pocket 
handkerchief  in  possession  of  one  of  the  crew 
He  charged  the  man  with  stealing  it.      It  was  in 
yam  that  the  poor  wretch  asserted  that  he  found 


it.  uwuci  liis  iiammock 


IV 


le  was  reported  as  a 


I 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK* 


88 

thief;  a  court-martial  sat  upon  him,  and  returned 
the  shamefully  disproportionate  sentence  of  three 
hundred  lashes  through  th^  fleet,  and  one  year's 
imprisonment !  Any  of  my  shipmates  who  are 
living,  will  certify  to  the  truth  of  this  statement, 
brutal  and  improbable  as  it  may  appear. 

Nor  was  that  sentence  a  dead  letter ;  the  un- 
happy man  endured  it  to  the  letter.  Fifty  were 
laid  on  alongside  of  the  Macedoniar,,  in  conformity 
with  a  common  practice  of  infl:icing  the  most 
strokes  at  the  first  ship,  in  order  that  the  gory 
back  of  the  criminal  may  strike  the  more  terror 
into  the  crews  of  the  other  ships.  This  poor 
tortured  man  bore  two  hundred  and  twenty,  and 
was  pronounced  by  the  attending  surgeon  unfit  to 
receive  the  rest.  Galled,  bruised,  and  agonized 
as  he  was,  he  besought  him  to  suffer  the  infliction 
of  the  remaining  eighty,  that  he  might  not  be 
called  to  pass  through  the  degrading  scene  again ; 
but  this  prayer  was  denied !  He  was  brought  on 
board,  and  when  his  wounds  were  healed,  the 
captain,  Shy  lock-like,  determined  to  have  the 
whole  pound  of  flesh,  ordered  him  to  receive  the 
remainder ! 

But  for  my  desire  to  present  the  reader  with  a 
true  exhibition  of  life  on  board  a  British  man  of 
war,  it  would  be  my  choice  to  suppress  these  dis- 
gusting details  of  cruelty  and  punishment.  But 
this  is  impossible;  I  must  either  draw  a  false 
picture  or  describe  them.  I  choose  the  latter,  ii^^ 
the  hope  that  giving  publicity  to  these  facts  will*^ 


'^m 


/^f 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OP   WAR. 


3turned 
)f  three 
J  year's 
rho  are 
tement, 

;lie  un- 
y  were 
formity 
3  most 
e  gory 
terror 
s  poor 
ty,  and 
unfit  to 
^onized 
fliction 
not  be 
again ; 
ight  on 
jd,  the 
ve  the 
ive  the 

with  a 
nan  of 
se  dis- 
But 
1  false 
tter,  ij|i 
ts  will 


89 


I 


exert  a  favorable  influence  on  the  already  improv- 
ing  discipline  of  ships  of  war. 

The  case  of  our  ship's  drummer  will  illustrate 
the   hopelessness   of   our    situation   under   such 
officers   as  commanded  our  ship;  it  will  show 
that  implicit,  uncomplaining  submission  was  our 
only  resource.     This  drummer,  being  seized  up 
for  some  petty  offence,  demanded,  what  no  captain 
can  refuse,  to  be  tried  by  a  court-martial ;  in  the 
hope,    probably,    of    escaping    altogether.       The 
officers  laughed  among  each  other,  and  when,  a 
fevv  days  afterwards,   the   poor,   affrighted   man 
offered  to  withdraw  the   demand   and   take   six 
dozen  lashes,  they  coolly  remarked,  "  The  drum- 
mer is  sick  of  his  bargain."      He  would   have 
been  a  wiser  man  had  he  never  made  it ;  for  the 
court-martial  sentenced  him  to  receive  two  hun- 
dred   lashes    through   the  fleet :— a  punishment 
ostensibly  for  his  first  offence,  but  really  for  his 
msolence  (?)  in  demanding  a  trial  by  court-mar- 
tial.     Such  was  the  administration  of  justice  (?) 
on  board  the  Macedonian. 

"Why  did  not  your  crew  rise  in  resistance  to 
such  cruelty?"  is  a  question  which  has  often 
been  proposed  to  me,  when  relating  these  facts  to 
my  American  friends.  To  talk  of  mutiny  on 
shore  is  an  easy  matter ;  but  to  excite  it  on  ship- 
board  is  to  rush  on  certain  death.  Let  it  be 
known  that  a  man  has  dared  to  breathe  the  idea, 
and  he  is  sure  to  swing  at  the  yard-arm.  Some 
of  our  men  once  saw  six  mutineers  hanging  at 


I 


90 


A   VOICE    FROK   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


the  yard-arm  at  once,  in  a  ship  whose  crew  exhib- 
ited the  incipient  beginnings  of  mutiny.  Let 
mutiny  be  successful,  the  government  will  employ 
its  whole  force,  if  needful,  in  hunting  down  the 
mutineers;  their  blood,  to  the  last  drop,  is  the 
terrible  retribution  it  demands  for  this  ofTence. 
That  demand  is  sure  to  be  met,  as  was  the  case 
with  the  crew  of  the  Hermion=>^  frigate,  and  with 
the  crew  of  the  ill-fated  Bounty,  whose  history  is 
imprinted  on  the  memory  of  the  whole  civilized 
world.  With  such  tragedies  flitting  before  our 
eyes,  who  need  ask  why  we  did  not  resist  ? 

Just  before  we  left  Lisbon  for  another  cruise, 
my  position  was  once  more  changed  by  my  ap- 
pointment to  the  post  of  servant  to  the  sailing- 
master  ;  whose  boy,  for  some  offence  or  other,  was 
flogged  and  turned  away.  Here,  too,  the  captain 
procured  a  fine  band,  composed  of  Frenchmen, 
Italians  and  Germans,  taken  by  the  Portuguese 
from  a  French  vessel.  These  musicians  con- 
sented to  serve,  on  condition  of  being  excused  from 
fighting,  and  on  a  pledge  of  exemption  from  being 
flogged.  They  used  to  play  to  the  captain  during 
his  dinner  hour ;  the  party  to  be  amused  usually 
consisting  of  the  captain  and  one  or  two  invited 

♦The  crew  of  this  vessel  mutinied,  killed  their  officers, 
and  run  the  ship  into  a  Spanish  port,  where  she  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  Spaniards,  then  at  war  with  England. 
Large  rewards  were  offered  for  these  mutineers ;  many 
were  taken,  and  all  who  were  taken  suffered  the  penalty 
of  death. 


SIX   YEARS    IN   A    MAN   OF   WAR. 


91 


IV  exhib- 
f.      Let 

employ 
3vvn  the 
,  is   the 

offence, 
the  case 
.nd  with 
istory  is 
civilized 
fore  our 

>   • 

•  cruise, 
my  ap- 
sailing- 
ler,  was 
captain 
ichmen, 
tuguese 
ns  con- 
ed from 
m  being 
I  during 
usually 
invited 


guests  from  the  ward-room ;  except  on  Sundays, 
when  he  chose  to  honor  the  ward-room  with  his 
august  presence.  The  band  then  played  for  the 
ward-room.  They  also  played  on  deck  whenever 
we  entered  or  left  a  port.  On  the  whole,  their 
presence  was  an  advantage  to  the  crew,  since 
their  spirit-stirring  strains  served  to  spread  an 
occasional  cheerful  influence  over  them.  Soon 
after  they  came  on  board,  we  had  orders  to  pro- 
ceed to  sea  again  on  another  cruise. 


'i 


f 


*  officers, 
:  fell  into 
5]ng]and. 
;  many 
;  penalty 


.1 


*  J  ll 


CHAPTER    IV. 

A  man  overboard— A  false  alarm— Arrive  at  Madeira- 
Cruise  to  St.  Michael's— Birth  of  two  children— Return 
to  Lisbon— Short  cruises  why  liked— Bob  Hammond 
in  trouble  as^ain-Jack  Sadler  attempts  to  desert— Sad- 
ler and  Hammond  placed  in  irons— Bob's  defence— The 
Broomers— Bob  Hammond  runs  away— Humor  of  war 
with  America— The  .Macedonian  sail.;  with  despatches 
to  America— Sufferings  through  cold— Anecdote  of  a 
tyrannical  lieutenant— Ileach  Hampton  Roads— Good 
fare— Refusal  to  let  the  crew  go  ashore— Reason- 
Exchange  of  courtesies  between  Captain  Cardcn  and 
Commodore  Decatur— The  Leopard  and  the  Chesa- 
peake—Departure from  Virginia— At  Lisbon— The 
mail-bag— Advanta-o  of  a  little  education— Macedo- 
nian sails  for  England. 

A  FEW  days  after  we  had  fairly  g-ot  out  to  sea, 
the  thrilling  cry  of  "  A  man  overboard ! "  ran 
through  the  ship  with  electrical  effect;  it  was 
followed  by  another  cry  of,  "  Heave  out  a  rope  ! " 
then  by  still  another,  of  "  Cut  away  the  life 
buoy  ! "  Then  came  the  order,  "  Lower  a  boat ! " 
Notwithstanding  the  rapidity  of  these  commands, 
and  the  confusion  occasioned  by  the  anticipated 
loss  of  a  man,  they  were  rapidly  obeyed.  The 
ship  was  then  hove  to.  But  that  time,  however, 
the  cause  of  all  this  excitpmpnt  wnc  nf  a  ^^r,c,*/i«- 


1  J 


ladeira — 
— Relurii 
[ammond 
erl— Sad- 
nce — The 
or  of  war 
espatches 
iote  of  a 
Is — Good 
Reason — 
rdcn  and 
!  Chesa- 
lon— The 
■Macedo- 


to  sea, 

!"   ran 

it   was 

rope ! " 

:he  life 

boat ! " 

mands, 

cipatcd 

The 

)wever, 


SIX   YEARS    IN    A   MAN      F   WAR. 


93 


able  distance  from  the  ship.  It  was  a  poor  Swede, 
iianui]  Lofrholm,  who,  while  en<.  .rred  n  '  ling 
the  lark^-^rd  anchor  stock,  lost  his  hold  a.,d  fell 
^"  ^'     He  could  not  swim  ;  but,  somehow, 

he  man  i^^od  to  keep  afloat  until  the  boat  reached 
him,  when  he  began  to  sink.  The  man  at  the 
bow  ran  his  boat  hook  down,  and  caught  the 
drowning  man  by  his  clothes  :  his  clothes  tear- 
ing, the  man  lost  his  hold,  and  the  Swede  once 
more  sunk.  Again  the  active  bowsman  ran  the 
hook  own,  leaning  far  over  the  side;  fortunately, 
he  got  hold  of  his  shirt  collar:  dripping,  and 
apparently  lifele.ss,  they  drew  him  into  the  boat. 
He  was  soon  under  the  surgeon's  care,  whose 
skill  restored  him  to  animation  and  to  life.  It 
was  a  narrow  escape  ! 

Rising  one  morning,  I  heard  the  men  talking 
about  having  been  called  to  quarters  during  the 
night.  They  said  a  strange  vessel  having  ap- 
peared, the  drums  beat  to  quarters,  the  guns  were 
got  ready,  those  great  lanterns,  which  are  placed 
on  the  main  deck,  called  battle  lanterns,  were  got 
out,  and  the  officers  began  to  muster  the  men  at 
each  division ;  when  they  discovered  the  supposed 
vessel  of  war  to  be  nothing  .ore  than  a  large 
merchant  ship.  Upon  this  the  hands  were  sent 
below.  All  this  was  news  to  me ;  I  had  slept 
through  all  the  noise,  confusion  and  bustle  of  the 
night,  utterly  ignorant  of  the  whole  matter.  It 
was  fortunate  for  me  that  the  real  character  of  the 


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94 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


k 


called,  otherwise  the  morning  would  have  found 
me  at  the  gratings  under  punishment.  Never  was 
boy  happier  than  myself,  when  made  acquainted 
with  my  hair-breadth  escape  from  the  lash. 

We  had  now  reached  the  island  of  Madeira, 
occupied  by  the  Portuguese,  and  producing  line 
oranges,  grapes  and  wine.     It  is  some  sixty  miles 
in  length,  about  forty  in  breadth  ;  the  climate  is 
hot,  but  salubrious ;  its  harbor,  or  rather  roadstead, 
IS  by  no  means  commodious  or  safe— so  that  our 
stay  was  short.     Here,  the  Portuguese  lad  who 
had  supplied  my  place  as  servant  lo  the  surgeon, 
was  sent  on  shore,  for  attempting  a  crime  unfit  to 
be  mentioned  in  these  pages,  but  quite  common 
among  the  Spaniards  and  Portuguese.     My  old 
master  made  an  effort  to  obtain  me  again,  but  did 
not  succeed. 

Sailing  from  Madeira,  we  next  made  St.  Mi- 
chael's.    At  this  place  we  had  an  increase  to  our 
crew,  in  the  person  of  a  fine,  plump  boy— born  to 
the  wife  of  one  of  our  men.     The  captain  chris- 
tened the  new  comer,  Michael,  naming  him  after 
the  island.     This  birth  was  followed  by  another. 
Whether  the  captain  did  not  like  the  idea  of  such 
interesting  episodes  in  sea  life,  or  whether  any 
other  motive  inspired  him,  I  cannot  tell ;  but  when, 
shortly  after,  we  returned  to  Lisbon,  he  ordered 
all  the  women  home  to  England,  by  a  ship  just 
returning  thither.     Before  this,  however,  one  of 
our  little  Tritons  had  died,  and  found  a  -rave  un- 
der the  billows,  leaving  its  disconsolate  mother  in 


I 


SIX   YEAHS   IN   A   MAN   OF    WAR. 


9^ 


ve  found 
ever  was 
quainted 
h. 

Madeira, 
zing  fine 
cty  miles 
limate  is 
)adstead, 
that  our 
lad  who 
surgeon, 
unfit  to 
common 
My  old 
,  but  did 

St.  Mi- 
e  to  our 
-born  to 
1  chris- 
m  after 
mother, 
of  such 
er  any 
t  when, 
Drdered 
ip  just 
one  of 
Lve  un- 
ther  in 


n 


a  state  little  short  of  distraction.     A  man  of  war 
is  no  place  for  a  woman. 

Short  ciuises  are  very  popular  with  man-of- 
war's-men.  On  many  accounts  they  love  being 
in  harbor  ;  on  others  they  prefer  being  at  sea.  In 
harbor  they  have  to  work  all  day,  but  in  return  for 
this  they  have  the  whole  night  for  sleep.  At  sea, 
the  whole  time  is  divided  into  five  watches  of  four 
hours  each,  and  two  shorter  ones,  called  dog 
watches,  of  two  hours  each,  or  from  four  to  six 
and  from  six  to  eight,  P.  M.  The  design  of  these 
dog  watches  is  to  alternate  the  time,  so  that  each 
watch  may  have  a  fair  proportion  of  every  night 
below. 

While  at  our  station  this  time,  our  old  friend, 
Bob  Hammond,  met  with  some  little  difficulty, 
which  we  will  here  make  matter  of  record.  He 
was  below,  and  one  of  his  messmates  did  some- 
thing  that  vexed  him  exceedingly.  Now  Bob  was 
not  a  man  to  bear  vexations  tamely,  where  he  had 
the  power  to  resist  them ;  so,  lifting  his  huge  fist, 
he  struck  at  the  ofifender;  missing  his  real  oppo- 
nent, the  blow  fell  upon  another  who  stood  near 
him.  Bob  was  too  much  of  a  bully  to  offer  any 
apology ;  he  merely  laughed,  and  remarked  that 
he  had  "  killed  two  birds  with  one  stone." 

Whether  the  bird,  who,  in  Bob's  figurative  lan- 
guage, was  killed,  did  not  hke  being  called  a  bird, 
or  whether  he  conceived  a  strong  dislike  to  being 
a  mark  for  Bob  to  shoot  at,  is  not  for  me  to  say ; 
but  he  certainly  disliked  the  one  or  the  other,  for 


96 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE   MAIN   DECK. 


'  '♦ii ' 


t^  next  morning:  he  reported  the  matter  to  the 
officers,  which  complaint  was  considered  a  most 
unsailor-like  act  by  the  whole  crew. 

Fighting-  was  a  punishable  offence,  so  Bob  was 
called  up  the  next  morning.      The  captain  men- 
tioned what  was  reported  concernino-  him      He 
acknowledged   it  was  all  true,  and  without  any 
signs  of  contrition  said,  "I  only  killed  two  birds 
with  one  stone."     The  angry  captain  ordered  two 
dozen  lashes  to  be  laid  on ;  it  was  done  without 
extorting  a  sigh  or  a  groan.      He  was  then  loosed 
from  the  gratmg,  and  questioned ;  but  he  merely 
replied,  in  a  grufT  tone,  that  "  the  man  who  report- 
ed him  was  a  blackguard ! "     For  this,  he  was 
seized  up  again  and  another  dozen  lashes  inflicted  • 
he  bore  them  with  the  same  dogged  and  imper- 
turbable air.     Finding  it  impossible  to  extort  any 
acknowledgment  from  the  stubborn  tar,  the  cap- 
tain  ordered  him  below. 

About  the  same  time  one  of  our  crew,  named 
Jack  Sadler,  a  fine,  noble-hearted  seaman,  growing 
weary  of  the  service,  determined  to  desert.     Drop- 
ping into  the  water,  he  began  swimming  towards 
the  shore.     It  was  not  very  dark,  and  he  was  dis- 
covered ;  the  sentry  was  ordered  to  fire  at  him 
which  he  did,  but  missed  his  prey.     A  boat  was 
next  lowered,  wh  ich  soon  overtook  and  drago-ed 
him  on  board.     The  officer  commanding  the  b°oat 
said,  "  Well,  Mr.  Sadler,  you  thought  you  had  o-at 
away,  did  yon  ?  "     "  You  are  not  so  sure  that  you 
have  me  now,"  replied  Sadler,  as  he  sprung  over 
the  side  of  the  boat.     Nor  viroM]A  tu^.r  k Lie. 


".AM.       ViXC  V      iliXVKS 


cap- 


I'  i 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


97 


tter  to  the 
ed  a  most 

)  Bob  was 
>tairi  men- 
him.     He 
thout  any 
two  birds 
iered  two 
e  without 
en  loosed 
e  merely 
io  report- 
,  he  v/as 
inflicted ; 
d  imper- 
xtort  any 
the  cap- 

'■j  named 
growing 
Drop- 
towards 
was  dis- 
at  him, 
>oat  was 
dragged 
the  boat 
had  got 
hat  you 

ng  over 

1^ 


'I 


"i 


tured  him,  had  not  another  ship's  boat  arrived  to 
their  assistance. 

The  next  day,  he  was  seized  up  and  received 
three  dozen  lashes,  which,  considering  his  offence, 
was  a  very  light  punishment.  I  suppose  that  his 
noble  bearing,  his  lion-hearted  courage,  and  his 
undaunted  manner,  produced  a  favorable  feelinir  in 
the  captain's  mind ;  especially  as  he  afterwards 
became  his  favorite— a  fancy  man— as  those  men 
are  called  who  win  the  favor  of  their  superior 
officer. 

One  of  Sadler's  failings  was  that  loo  prevalent 
evil  among  seamen,  drunkenness.     Soon  after  the 
above  affair,  he  got  drunk.     Being  seen    y  the 
captain,  he  was  ordered  to  be  put  in  irons.      Sad- 
ler was  Bob  Hammond's  messmate ;  this  worthy, 
finding  his  comrade  in  trouble,  made  himself  drunk,' 
and  purposely  placed  himself  in  the  way  of  the 
officers,  that  he  might  be  put  in  irons  also,  to  keep 
his  friend  Sadler  company.     The  plan  succeeded. 
Bob  had  his  wish,  and  the  two  fearless  tars  were 
soon   ironed   together.       Nothing   daunted,    they 
began  to  sing,  and  through  the  whole  night  they 
kept  up  such  a  hallooing,  shouting  and  singing  as 
might  have  served  for  a  whole  company  of  Idle 
roysterers.     Being  near  the  ward-room,  they  pre- 
vented the  officers  from  sleeping  nearly  all  night. 
As  usual,  after  being  in  irons,  they  were  brought 
up  for  punishment  the  next  morning.     «  Well  Mr 
Sadler,"  said  the  captain,  "  you  were  drunk,  were 
you,  last  night  ? " 
9 


98 


A    VOICE    FROM   THE   MAIN  -DECK. 


hi 


1. 


"  I  was,  sir,"  replied  the  oflfendcr. 

Had  lie  been  any  other  man,  he  would  have 
been  ordered  to  strip :  as  it  was,  the  captain  pro- 
ceeded,— 

*'  Do  you  feel  sorry  for  it,  sir  ?  " 

"I  do,  sir." 

*'  Will  you  try  to  keep  sober  if  I  forgive  you  ?  " 
continued  Captain  Garden. 

"I  will  try,  sir."  • 

"  Then,  sir,  I  forgive  you  :"  and  no  doubt  he 
was  glad  to  witness  that  contrition  in  his  favorite 
which  made  it  consistent  to  forgive  him.  Having 
dismissed  Sadler,  he  turned  to  Hammond :  as- 
sumirg  a  sterner  look  and  a  harsher  voice,  he 
said,  in  a  tone  of  irony,  "  Well,  Mr.  Hammond, 
you  got  drunk  last  night,  did  you,  sir  ? " 

Bob  shrugged  up  his  shoulders,  and  removed 
his  enormous  quid  into  a  convenient  position  for 
speaking,  and  then  replied,  "  I  can't  say  but  that 
I  had  a  horn  of  malt." 

The  captain  looked  thunder  at  the  stalwort  man, 
as  he  answered,  *' A  horn  of  malt,  you  rascal! 
what  do  you  call  a  horn  of  malt  ?  " 

"  When  I  was  in  Bengal,  Madras,  and  Bata- 
via,"  said  he,  "  I  used  to  get  some  stuff  called 
arrack — we  used  to  call  it  a  horn  of  malt;  but  this 
was  some  good  rum." 

Bob's  manner  was  so  exquisitely  ridiculous 
while  delivering  this  harangue,  that  both  officers 
and  men  broke  out  into  an  involuntary  laugh. 
The  captain  looked  confounded,  but  recovering 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


99 


lid  have 
aiii  pro- 


;  you 


? » 


oubt  he 
favorite 
Having 
nd :  as- 
oice,  he 
tnmond, 

'emoved 
ition  for 
but  that 

3rt  man, 
rascal  I 

d  Bata- 

f  called 
but  this 

liculous 

officers 

laugh. 

overing 


himself,  he  said  to  Mr.  Hope,  the  first  lieutenant, 
"Put  that  rascal  in  irons;  it  is  of  no  use  to  flog 
him.'' 

One  of  the  peculiarities  of  Captain  Garden  was 
an  ardent  desire  to  have  a  crow  of  picked,  first- 
rate    men.     The   shiftless,  slovenly  seaman  was 
his  abhorrence.     Had  he  dared,  he  would  gladly 
have  given  all  such  their  discharge;  as  it  was, 
he   never   attempted   their  recovery,  by  offering 
a  reward  for  their  detection,  if  they  ran  away ; 
while  he  spared  no  pains  to  catch  an  able,  active, 
valuable  man  like  Sadler.     He  even  gave  these 
drones  opportunity  to  escape,  by  sending  them  on 
shore  at  Lisbon,  to  cut  stuff  to  make  brooms  for 
sweeping  the  deck.     The  men  sent  out  on  these 
expeditions  were  nicknamed  "broomers."     Now, 
although  Bob  Hammond  was  as  expert  a  sailor  as 
any  man   in  the  ship,  yet  his  unconquerable  au- 
dacity  made  the  captain  fear  his  influence,  and 
wish  to  get  rid  of  him ;  hence,  a  few  days  after 
this  drunken  spree.  Bob  was  called  on  deck  to  go 
with  the  broomers.     "  You  may  go,  Mr.  Ham- 
mond," said  the  captain,  eyeing  him  in   a  very 
expressive   manner,  "with  these   fellows  to  cut 
broom." 

Bob  understood  the  hint  perfectly,  and  replied, 
**  Aye,  aye,  sir,  and  I  will  cut  a  long  handle  to 
it."  I  'scarcely  need  remark  that  the  broomers 
returned  without  Bob.  Whether  he  remained  on 
shore  to  cut  the  long  handle,  or  for  some  other 
purpose,  he  never  informed  us:    certain  it  is. 


t 
,'** 


100 


A  VOICE    FROM   THE   MAIN    DECK. 


however,  that   the   presence   of  Bob   Hammond 
never   darkened   the   decks   of  the   Macedonian 


agam. 


About  this  time  the  prevailing  topic  of  conver- 
sation among  our  men  and  officers  was  the  proba- 
bility of  a  war  with  America.  The  prevailing 
feeling  through  the  whole  fleet  was  that  of  confi- 
dence in  our  own  success,  and  of  contempt  for 
the  inferior  naval  force  of  our  anticipated  ene- 
mies. Every  man,  and  especially  the  officers, 
predicted,  as  his  eye  glanced  proudly  on  the  fine 
fleet  which  was  anchored  off  Lisbon,  a  speedy  and 
successful  issue  to  the  approaching  conflict. 

We  now  received  orders  to  sail  to  Norfolk, 
Virginia,  with  despatches.  The  voyage  was  ac- 
complished without  any  occurrence  of  note.  We 
found  ourselves  on  the  American  coast,  with  no 
very  pleasant  impressions.  It  was  late  in  the  fall, 
and  the  transition  from  the  mild,  soft  climate  of 
Spain  and  Portugal,  to  the  bleak,  sharp  atmos- 
phere of  the  coast  of  Virginia,  was  any  thing  but 
delightful. 

The  most  disagreeable  duty  in  the  ship  was 
that  of  holy-stoning  the  decks  on  cold,  frosty  morn- 
ings. Our  movements  were  never  more  elastic 
than  when  at  this  really  severe  task.  As  usual, 
it  gave  occasion  to  a  variety  of  forecastle  yarns 
about  cold  stations.  Among  these  was  one  which 
was  attested  by  many  witnesses,  and  there  can  be 
no  doubt  of  its  truth. 

A  British  frigate  was  once  stationed  in  a  cold 


SIX   YEAYS   IN   A    MAN   OF   WAR. 


101 


ammond 
:edonian 

convcr- 
le  proba- 
:evailing 
of  confi- 
3mpt  for 
:ed  ene- 
officers, 
the  fine 
;edy  and 
:t. 

Norfolk, 
was  ac- 
;e.  We 
with  no 
the  fall, 
mate  of 

atmos- 
ling  but 

hip  was 
;y  morn- 
}  elastic 
s  usual, 
e  yarns 
le  which 
3  can  be 

1  a  cold 


climate.     The  first  li 


I 


mtenant  was  a  complete  ty- 
rant,  delighting   in  everything   that  caused  the 
crew   to   suffer.     Among  other  things,  he  took 
especial  care  to  make  the  work  of  holy-stoning  as 
painful  as  possible,  by  forcing  them  to  continue  at 
it  much  longer  than  was  necessary.     Although 
he  had  no  watch  on  deck,  he  would  contrive  to 
be  up  in  season  to  annoy  the  men  with  his  hated 
presence.     One  morning,  the  weather  being  un- 
usally  severe,  the  men  sprang  to  their  task  with 
unwonted  agility,  and  contrived  to  finish  it  before 
the  appearance  of  their  persecutor.     To  their  vex- 
ation, however,  just  as  they  had  completed  their 
work,  he  bounced  on  deck,  with  a  peremptory 
order  to  wash  the  decks  all  over  a  second  time. 
The  men  dropped  on  their  knees  with  the  holy- 
stones, and   prayed,  as    the    tyrant  went   below, 
that  he  might  never  come  on  deck  again  alive. 
Whether  God   heard   the  cry  of  the   oppressed 
crew,  or  whether  it  was  the  action  of  the  ordinary 
natural  laws,  the  reader  must  determine  for  him- 
self; but  when  the  lieutenant  again  appeared  on 
deck,  he  was  brought  up  "  feet  foremost,"  to  be 
buried.     He  was  taken  sick  that  morning:   his 
disease  baffled  the  skill  of  the  surgeon,  and  in  a 
few  days  he  was  a  corpse.     The  opinion  that  he 
died  a  monument  of  the  divine  displeasure  against 
cruel,  hard-hearted  men  of  power,  and  of  disregard 
for  the  miseries  and  tears  of  the  oppressed  poor, 
is  at  least  worthy  of  serious  consideration. 

Soon  after  we  had  descried  land,  an  American 
9^ 


102 


V 


A    VOICK    FROM   THE    MAIN    DKCK. 


pilot  came  on  board  to  pilot  us  into  Hampton 
Koads.  Tho  sound  of  our  own  familiar  tonguo 
from  a  stranger,  was  very  airrccaMo  to  mm  who 
had  been  accustomed  to  hear  tho  semi-barbarous 
Imgo  of  the  Porluiruese,  and  a  thrill  of  home  re- 
membrances shot  thr()uo;h  our  hearts,  as,  ste])ping 
on  deck,  the  pilot  excliiimed,  "  It  is  very  cold  !" 

While  at  anchor  in  Ifnmpton  Koads,  we  fared 
well.  ]?oats  were  alonq-.sidc  every  day  with  plenty 
of  beef  and  pork,  wliich  was  declared,  by  univer- 
sal consent,  to  be  inlinitely  superior  to  what  wc 
obtained  from  Porluiral.  Our  men  said  that  the 
Yankee  pork  would  swell  in  the  pot,  wh'uih  they 
very  sagely  accounted  for  on  the  supposition  that 
the  pigs  were  killed  at  the  full  of  the  moon.  But 
I  suppose  that  Virginia  corn  had  more  to  do  in 
this  matter  than  lunar  influences:  thoudi  our 
men  most  doggedly  maintained  the  contrary  and 
more  mystical  opinion. 

The  principal  draw-back  on  the  enjoyment  of 
our  stay  at  Norfolk,  was  the  denial  of  liberty  to 
go  on  shore.  The  strictest  care  was  takoij  to 
prevent  all  communication  with  the  shore,  either 
personally  or  by  letter.  The  reason  of  this  pro- 
hibition was  a  fear  lest  we  should  desert.  Many 
of  our  crew  vi^ere  Americans  :  some  of  these  were 
pressed  men  ;  others  were  much  dissatisfied  with 
the  severity,  not  to  say  cruelty,  of  our  discipline ; 
so  that  a  multitude  of  the  crew  were  ready  to  give 
"leg  bail,"  as  they  terfned  it,  could  they  have 
planted  their  feet  on  American  soil.  Hence  our 
liberty  was  restrainod. 


KiX    YEAUS    IN    A    MAN    OF    WAK. 


103 


Flampton 

r  tonguo 

nvn  who 

arbaroiis 

lome  re- 
stoppiiior 

cold  ! " 
*vc  fared 
th  plenty 
r  iiniver- 
^vliat  wc 
that  the 
loh  they 
tioii  that 
n.  But 
;o  do  in 
icfh  our 
'ary  and 

mcnt  of 
iberty  to 
ikejj  to 
e,  either 
bis  pro- 
Many 
se  were 
ed  with 
cipline ; 
■  to  give 
;y  have 
nee  our 


Our  ofTiccrs  never  enjoyed  better  cheer  than 
durin<r  our  stay  at  this   port.     Besides   fcastin<r 
amon-  themselves  on  the  'Mie  fat  beef,  geese  and 
turkeys,    which    came    alongside    in    abundance, 
they  exchanged  visits  with  Commodore  Decatur 
and  his  oflicers,  of  the  United  States  frigate,  then 
lymg  at  Norfolk.     These  visits  were  seasons  of 
much  wassail  aiid   feasting.      I  remember  over- 
iiearing  Commodore  Decatur  and  the  captain  of 
the  Macedonian  jf)king  about  taking  each  other's 
ship,  ni  case  of  a  war;  and  some  of  the  crew  said 
that  a  bet  of  a  beaver  hat  passed  between  them  on 
the  issue  of  such  a  conllict.     They  probably  little 
thought  that  this  joking  over  a  wine-cup,  would 
afterwards  be  cracked  in  earnest,  in  a  scene  of 
blood  and  carnage. 

It  was  at  this  port  that  the  difficulty  between 
the  British  ship  Leopard  and  the  American  fri- 
gate Chesapeake  took  place.     Several  American 
seamen,  having   escaped   from   the   former,  took 
refuge  on  board  tho  latter.     The  captain  of  the 
Leopard  demanded  their  restoration ;  the  captain 
of   the    Chesapeake    refused    submission    to    the 
demand.      The   Leopard   fired   into   the   frigate, 
which,  being  of  inferior  force,  struck  to  her  oppo- 
nent.    As  it  was  a  time  of  peace,  the  Chesapeake 
was  not  kept  as  a  prize ;  the  claimed  men  were 
taken  from  her,  and  she  was  restored.     This  was 
among  the  circumstances  which  led  to  the  war 

The  despatches  delivered,  and  the  object  of  the 


J 


If 


'Hi 


i 

1 

I'lfj 

1 

!i! 

i 


104 


A    VOICE    FROM    THE    MAIN    DECK. 


voyage  accomplished,  we  once  more  put  to  sea; 
having  first  laid  in  a  liberal  store  of  our  favorite 
beef,  together  with  a  quantity  of  Virginia  beans, 
called  Calavances,  which  were  in  high  favor  with 
our  men.  To  those  of  our  crew  who  were  Amer- 
icans, this  was  rather  an  unpleasant  event.  Like 
the  fabled  Tantalus,  they  had  the  cup  at  their 
raouths,  but  it  receded  before  they  could  taste  its 
contents.  They  liad  been  at  the  threshold  of 
**  home,  sweet  home,"  but  had  not  been  permitted 
to  step  within  its  doom.  Some  of  them  felt  this 
very  keenly,  especially  a  boy,  who  belonged  to 
New  York,  named  Jesse  Lloyd.  In  truth,  it 
was  a  hard  lot. 

A  quick  winter  passage  brought  us  to  Lisbon, 
where  the  arrival  of  the  English  mail-bag,  and 
orders  to  proceed  to  England  with  a  convoy  of  mer- 
chantmen, put  us  all  into  a  tolerably  good  humor. 
The  arrival  of  the  mail-bag  is  a  season  of  pecu- 
liar interest  on  board  a  man  of  war.  It  calls  the 
finer  feelings  of  human  nature  into  exercise.  It 
awakens  conjugal,  fraternal,  and  filial  affection  in 
almost  every  breast.  The  men  crowd  around,  as 
th3  letters  are  distributed,  and  he  was  pronounced 
a  happy  fellow  whose  name  was  read  off  by  the 
distributor;  while  those  who  had  none,  to  hide 
their  disappointment,  would  jocularly  offer  to  buy 
those  belonging  to  their  more  fortunate  mess- 
mates. 

During  the  two  years  of  our  absence  I  had 
received  several  letters  from  my  mother,  which 


SIX    YEARS   IN   A    MAN    OF    WAR. 


105 


t  to  sea ; 

:  favorito 

ia  beans, 

Lvor  with 

re  Amer- 

t.     I'ike 

at  iheir 

taste  its 

shold  of 

icrmitted 

felt  this 

)nged  to 

truth,  it 

Lisbon, 
)ag,  and 
>^of  mer- 
L  humor, 
of  pecu- 
calls  the 
cise.  It 
action  in 
ound,  as 
nounced 
f  by  the 
to  hide 
r  to  buy 
5  mess- 

j  I  had 
,  which 


afTorded  me  much  satisfaction.     To  these  I  had 
faithfully  replied.     I  now  experienced  the  advan- 
tage  of  the   primary  education    I    had  received 
when  a  boy.     Many  of  my  shipmates  could  nei- 
I         ther  read  nor  write,  and  were,  in  consequence, 
■         either  altogether  deprived  of  the  privilege  of  inter- 
i         course  with  their  friends,  or  were  dependent  on 
the  kindness  of  others,  to  read  and  write  for  them. 
For  these  I  acted  as  a  sort  of  scribe.      I  also 
solaced  many  weary  hours  by  reading  such  works 
as  could  be  obtained  from  the  officers ;  and  some- 
times I  perused  the  Bible  and  prayer  book  which 
my  mother  so  wisely  placed  in  my  chest,  on  the 
eve  of  my  departure.     The  pack  of  cards,  which 
so  inappropriately  accompanied  them,  I  had  loaned 
to  one  of  the  officers,  who  tcok  the  liberty  to  keep 
them.      This  was,  perhaps,  more  fortunate  than 
otherwise,  since  their  possession  might  have  led 
to  their  use,  and  their  use  might  have  excited  a 
propensity  to  gambling,  which  would  have  ended 
in  my  ruin. 

After  remaining  a  very  short  time  at  Lisbon, 
we  one  morning  fired  a  gun  to  give  notice  to 
our  convoy  to  get  under  weigh.  Immediately 
the  harbor  was  alive  with  noise  and  activity. 
The  song  of  the  sailors  weighing  anchor,  the 
creaking  of  pulleys,  the  flapping  of  the  sails,  the 
loud,  gruff  voices  of  the  officers,  and  the  splashing 
of  the  waters,  created  what  was  to  us,  now  that 
we  were  "  homeward  bound,"  a  sweet  harmony 
of  sounds.      Amid  all  this  animation,  our  own 


If! 


106 


:t,|: 


'hi 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE   MAIN   DECK. 


Stately  frigate  spread  her  bellying  sails  to  a  light 
but  favoring  breeze ;  with  colors  flying,  our  band 
playing  lively  airs,  and  the  captain  with  his  speak- 
ing trumpet  urging  the  lagging  merchan^ships  to 
more  activity,  we  passed  gaily  through  the  large 
fleet  consigned  to  our  care.     In  this  gallant  style 
we  scudded  past  the  straggling  ruins  of  old  Lis- 
bon, which  still  bore  marks  of  the  earthquake  that 
destroyed  it.      Very  soon  the  merry  fishermen, 
who  abound  in  the  Tagus,  were  far  at  our  stern. 
Next,  v/e  glided  »ast  the  tall  granite  pinnacles  of 
towering  mount   Cintra ;    the  high-lands  passed 
from  our  vision  like  the  scenes  in  a  panorama, 
and  in  a  few  hours,  instead  of  the  companionship 
of  the  large  flocks  of  gulls,  which  abound  in  this 
river,  we  were  attended  by  only  here  and  there 
one  of  these  restless  wanderers  of  the  deep.     We 
were  fairly  at  sea,  and,  what  was  the  more  inspir- 
iting, we  were  enjoying  the  luxury  of  fond  an- 
ticipation.    Visions  of  many  an  old  fire-side,  of 
many  a  humble  heartn-stone,  poor,  but  precious, 
flitted  across  the  visions  of  our  crew  that  night. 
Hardships,  severe  discipline,  were   for  the   time 
forgotten  in  the  dreams  of  hope.     Woald  that  I 
could   say  that   everything   in   every  mind  was 
thus  absorbed  in  pleasure!     There  were  minds 
that  writhed  under  what  is  never  forgotten.     Like 
the  scar,  that  time  may  heal,  but  not  remove, 
the  flogged  man  forgets   not  that  he  has   been 
degraded;    the  whip,  when  it  scarred  the  flesh, 
went  farther ;  it  wounded  the  spirit ;  it  struck  the 


91 

c; 

01 

a] 
ir 
I^ 
w 
be 


I 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


107 


to  1  light 
our  band 
lis  speak- 
t-ships  to 
the  large 
lant  style 
old  Lis- 
lake  that 
shermen, 
ur  stern, 
lacles  of 
s  passed 
morama, 
nionship 
d  in  this 
id  there 
!p.     We 
e  inspir- 
fond  an- 
side,  of 
irecious, 
it  night, 
he  time 
i  that  I 
ind  was 
J  minds 
.     Like 
remove, 
IS   been 
e  flesh, 
uck  the 


I 


7nan ;  it  begat  a  sense  of  degradation  he  must 
carry  with  him  to  his  grave.  We  had  many  such 
on  board  our  frigate  ;  their  laugh  sounded  empty, 
and  sometimes  their  look  became  suddenly  vacant 
m  the  midst  of  hilarity.  It  was  the  whip  enter- 
ing THE  SOUL  ANEW.  But  the  most  of  our  crew 
were,  for  the  time,  happy.  They  were  homeward 
bound ! 


it 


^ 


l/f? 


Jl 


.1 


I 


CHAPTER  V. 

Delight  at  seeing  my  native  land— Plymouth— Use  made 
of  shore-liberty  by  sailors— A  Sabbath  ashore— Good 
eflects  of  temperance  illustrated— Desire  and  opportu- 
nity to  run  away— I  resolve  to  remain— A  man  of  war 
a  bad  place  for  a  boy — Licentiousness  in  port— Danger 
follows  the  sailor  everywhere— The  loss  of  the  Royal 
George— Extract  from  Cowper— The  Macedonian  is 
hauled  up— Repaired— Sailing  orders— A  bad  pn  ctice 
—Getting  under  weigh- Engaged  in  the  blockade  of 
Brest— Ordered  to  Plymouth— Order  countermanded— 
Unlucky  adventurers — A  prize. 

After  running  a  few  days  before  a  fair  wind, 
the  delightful  cry  of  "  Land  ho ! "  was  heard  from 
the   mast-head;    a   cry  always   pleasant  to   the 
inhabitant    of    a    ship,   but    most    especially   so 
when  the  distant  hills  are  those  of  his  native  land. 
Soon  after  the  cry  of  the  man  aloft,  the  land 
became  dimly  visible  from  the  deck,  and  our  eyes 
glistened,  as  the  bright,  emerald  fields  of  old  Eng- 
land, in  all  the  giory  of  their  summer  beauty,  lay 
spread   out   before   us.      Ascending   the    British 
Channel,  we  soon  made  the  spacious  harbor  of 
Plymouth,  where  we  came  to  an  anchor.    One  of 
our  convoy,  however,  by  some  unskilful' manage- 
ment, ran  ashore  at  the  mouth  of  the   harbor, 
where  she  went  to  pieces. 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


109 


•Use  made 

Dre — Good 
I  opportii- 
an  of  war 
t — Danger 
the  Royal 
donian  is 
d  pn  ctice 
)ckade  of 
manded — 


lir  wind, 
ard  from 
;  to  the 
ially  so 
[\e  land, 
he  land 
our  eyes 
>ld  Eng- 
LUty,  lay 

British 

irbor  of 

One  of 

nanage- 

h  arbor, 


»#■' 


I 


We  found  Ply;nouthno  be  a  naval  station  of 
considerable  imporMnce,  well  fortified,  possessing 
extensive  barracks  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
military,  and  having  a  magnificent  dock-yard, 
abundantly  supplied  with  the  means  of  building 
and  refitting  the  wooden  walls. 

Nothing  would  have  afforded  me  a  higher  grati- 
fication, than  a  trip  to  the  pleasant  fields  and  quiet 
hearth-sides  of  dear  old  Bladen.     I  longed  to  pour 
out   my  pent-up   griefs   into    the   bosom   of  my 
mother,  and  to  find  that  sympathy  which  is  sought 
in  vain  in  the  cold,  unfeeling  world.     This  privi- 
lege was,  however,  denied  to  all.     No  one  could 
obtain  either  leave  of  absence  or  money,  since  a 
man  of  war  is  never  "  paid  off"  until  just  before 
she  proceeds  to  sea.     But,  feeling  heartily  tired  of 
the  service,  I  wrote  to  my  mother,  requesting  her 
to  endeavor  to  procure  my  discharge.     This,  with 
the  promptitude  of  maternal  affection,  she  pledged 
herself  to  do  at  the  earliest  possible  opportunity. 
How  undying  is  a  mother's  love  ! 

When  a  man  of  war  is  in  port,  it  is  usual  to 
grant  the  crew  occasional  liberty  to  go  on  shore. 
These  indulgences  are  almost  invariably  abused 
for  purposes  of  riot,  drunkenness  and  debauchery; 
rarely  does  it  happen,  but  that  these  shore  sprees 
end  in  bringing  "poor  Jack"  into  difficulty  of 
some  sort ;  for,  once  on  shore,  he  is  like  an  un- 
caged bird,  as  gay  and  quite  as  thoughtless.  He 
will  then  follow  out  the  dictates  of  passions  and 
appetites,  let  them  le^d  him  whither 


I .} : 


10 


they  may. 


110 


A   VOICE   FROM  THE    MAIN   DECK. 


ili-i 


^lliiM 


I 


Still,  there  are  exceptions ;  there  are  a  few  who 
spend  their  time  more  rationaily.  Were  the  prin- 
ciples of  modern  temperance  fully  triumphant 
among  sailors,  they  would  all  do  so. 

I  resolved  not  to  abuse  my  liberty  as  I  saw 
others  doing ;  so  when,  one  fine  Sabbath  morning, 
I  had  obtained  leave  from  our  surly  first  lieuten- 
ant, I  chose  the  company  of  a  brother  to  a  mess- 
mate, named  Rowe,  who  lived  at  Plymouth.     At 
the  request  of  my  messmate,  I  called  to  see  him. 
He  received  me  very  kindly,  and  took  me  in  com- 
pany with  his  children  into  the  fields,  where  the 
merry  notes  of  the  numerous  birds,  the  rich  per- 
fume of  the  blooming  trees,  the  tall,  green  hedges, 
and  the  modest  primroses,  cowslips  and  violets, 
which  adorned  the  banks  on  the  road-side,  filled 
me  with  inexpressible  delight.     True,  this  was 
not  the  proper  manner  of  spending  a  Sabbath  day, 
but  it  was  better  than  it  would  have  been  to  follow 
the  example  of  my  shipmates  generally,  who  were 
carousing  in  the  tap-rooms  of  the  public  houses. 

At  sunset  I  went  on  board  and  walked  aft  to 
the  lieutenant,  to  report  myself.  He  appeared  sur- 
prised to  see  me  on  board  so  early  and  so  perfectly 
sober,  and  jocosely  asked  me  why  I  did  not  get 
drunk  and  be  like  a  sailor.  Merely  smiling,  I 
retired  to  my  berth,  thinking  it  was  very  queer  for 
an  officer  to  laugh  at  a  boy  for  doing  right,  and 
feeling  happy  within  myself  because  I  had  escaped 
temptation^ 

By  and  by,  three  other  boys,  who  had  been 


'"%.. 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF  WAR. 


Ill 


few  who 
''  the  prin- 
iumphant 

as  I  saw 
morning, 
t  lieuten- 
)  a  mess- 
•uth.     At 
see  him. 
3  in  com- 
/here  the 
rich  per- 
i  hedges, 
I  violets, 
de,  filled 
this  was 
)ath  day, 
to  follow 
^ho  were 
louses. 
;d  aft  to 
ired  sur- 
perfectly 
not  get 
oiling,  I 
[ueer  for 
ght,  and 
escaped 

ad  been 


i 


ashore,  returned,  in  a  state  which  a  sailor  would 

call  "  three  sheets  in  the  wind."     They  blustered, 

boasted  of  the  high  time  they  had  enjoyed,  and 

roundly  laughed  at  me  for  being  so  unlike  a  man- 

of-war's-man ;  while  they  felt  as  big  as  any  man 

on   board.      The   next   morning,   however,   they 

looked  rather  chop-fallen,  when  the  captain,  who 

had  accidentally  seen  their  drunken   follies   on 

shore,  ordered  them  to  be  flogged,  and  forbade  their 

masters  to  send  them  ashore  while  we  remained 

at  Plymouth.     Now,  then,  it  was  pretty  evident 

who  had  the  best  cruise;  the  joke  was  on  the 

other  side ;  for  while  their  drunken  behavior  cost 

them  a  terrible  whipping  and  a  loss  of  liberty,  my 

temperance  gained  me  the  real  approbation  of  my 

officers,  and  more  liberty  than  ever,  since  after  that 

day  I  had  to  go  on  shore  to  do  errands  for  their 

masters,  as  well  as  for  my  own.    The  young  sailor 

may  learn  from  this  fact  the  benefit  of  temperance, 

and  the  folly  of  getting  drunk,  for  the  sake  of 

being  called  a  fine  fellow. 

My  frequent  visits  to  the  shore  gave  me  many  op- 
portunities to  run  away;  while  my  dislike  of  every- 
thing about  the  Macedonian,  inspired  me  with  the 
disposition  to  improve  them.  Against  this  meas- 
ure my  judgment  wisely  remonstrated,  and,  happily 
for  my  well  being,  succeeded.  Such  an  attempt 
would  inevitably  have  been  foUowec'.  ' -y  my  recov- 
ery, since  a  handsome  bounty  was  paid  for  the 
delivery  of  every  runaway.  There  are  always  a 
sufficient  number  to  be  found  who  will  engage  in 


■"% 


i  t' 


I  i 


I 


112 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN    DECK. 


pursuit  for  the  sake  of  money — such  men  as  the 
Canadian  landlord,  described  by  Rev.  Wm.  Ligh- 
ton,  in  his  interesting  narrative,  a  work  with 
which,  no  doubt,  most  of  my  readers  are  acquainted, 
since  it  has  enjoyed  an  immense  circulation.  En- 
durance, therefore,  was  the  only  rational  purpose 
I  could  form. 

Perhaps  the  hope  of  a  speedy  discharge,  through 
my  mother's  efforts,  tended  somewhat  to  this  result 
in  my  case;  besides,  my  situation  had  become 
somewhat  more  tolerable  from  the  fact,  that  by 
dint  of  perseverance  in  a  civil  and  respectful  be- 
havior, I  had  gained  the  good  will  both  of  .the 
officers  and  crew.  Yet,  with  this  advantage,  it  was 
a  miserable  situation. 

There  are  few  worse  places  than  a  man  of  war, 
for  the  favorable  development  of  the  moral  charac- 
ter in  a  boy.  Profanity,  in  its  most  revolting 
aspect;  licentiousness,  in  its  most  shameful  and 
beastly  garb ;  vice,  in  the  worst  of  its  Proteus-like 
shapes,  abound  there.  While  scarcely  a  moral 
restraint  is  thrown  round  the  victim,  the  meshes 
of  temptation  are  spread  about  his  path  in  every 
direction.  Bad  as  things  are  at  sea,lhey  are  worse 
in  port.  There,  boat-loads  of  defiled  and  defiling 
Women  are  permitted  to  come  alongside;  the 
men,  looking  over  the  side,  select  whoever  best 
pleases  his  lustful  fancy,  and  by  paying  her  fare, 
he  is  allowed  to  take  and  keep  her  on  board  as 

—  I ••.. ,  aiitii  liiL  oiiip  la  oncu  mure  uruered 

to  sea.     Many  of  these  lost,  unfortunate  creatures 


i 


SIX   YEARS    IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


113 


len  as  the 
'"m.  Ligh-- 
ork  with 
:quainted, 
ion.  En- 
I  purpose 

?,  through 
;his  result 

I  become 
,  that  by 
3ctful  be- 
th  of  .the 
ge,  it  was 

n  of  war, 

II  charac- 
revohing 
leful  and 
)teus-like 

a  moral 
;  meshes 

in  every 
ire  worse 
I  defiling 
de ;  the 
)ver  best 
her  fare, 
board  as 
i  ordered 
creatures 


are  in  the  springtime  of  life,  some  of  them  are 
not  without  pretensions  to  beauty.  The  ports  of 
Plymouth  and  Portsmouth  are  crowded  with  these 
fiillen  beings.  How  can  a  boy  be  expected  to 
escape  pollution,  surrounded  by  such  works  of 
darkness  ?  Yet,  some  parents  send  their  children 
to  sea  because  they  are  ungovernable  ashore! 
Better  send  them  to  the  house  of  correction. 

There  is  one  aspect  in  which  life  at  sea  and 
hfe  in  port  materially  differ.  #At  sea,  a  sense  of 
danger,  an  idea  of  insecurity,  is  ever  present  to 
the  mind ;  in  harbor,  a  sense  of  security  lulls  the 
sailor  into  indulgence.  HiJ  feels  perfectly  safe. 
Yet,  even  in  harbor,  danger  sometimes  visits  the 
fated  ship,, stealing  upon  her  like  the  spirit  of 
evil.  This  remark  was  fearfully  illustrated  in 
the  loss  of  the  Royal  George,  which  sunk  at  Spit- 
head,  near  Portsmouth,  on  the  29th  of  August. 
1782.  ^^ 

This  splendid  line  of  battle  ship,  of  onr  hun- 
dred and  eight  guns,  had  arrived  at  Spithead. 
Needing  some  repairs,  she  was  "  heeled  down,''  or 
inclined  on  one  side,  to  allow  the  workmen  to 
work  on  her  sides.  Finding  more  needed  to  be 
done  to  the  copper  sheathing  than  was  expected, 
the  sailors  were  induced  to  heel  her  too  much. 
While  in  this  state,  she  was  struck  by  a  slight 
squall ;  the  cannon  rolled  over  to  the  depressed 
side ;  her  ports  were  open,  she  filled  with  water. 


.J  _ 


4 

*,         I.  : 


anu  suiiK  to  tne  bottom ! 

This  dreadful  catastrophe  occurred  about  ten 
10=*<^ 


■J-i 


,1 


^1 


I 


114 


A   VOICE   FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


o'clock  in  the  morning.  The  brave  admiral  Kem- 
penfeldt  was  writing  in  his  cabin;  most  of  the 
crew,  together  with  some  three  hundred  women, 
were  between  decks :  these  nearly  all  perished. 
Captain  Waghorne,  her  commander,  was  saved ; 
his  son,  one  of  her  lieutenants,  was  lost.  Those 
who  were  on  the  upper  deck  were  picked  up  by 
the  boats  of  the  fleet,  but  nearly  07ie  thousand 
souls  met  with  a  sudden  and  untimely  end.  The 
poet  Cowper  has  celebrated  th^=5  melancholy  event 
in  the  following  beautiful  lines  : 


} 


Toll  for  the  brave ! 

The  brave  that  are  no  more ! 
All  sunk  beneath  the  wave, 

Fast  by  their  native  shore. 

Eight  hundred  of  the  brave, 
Whos'i  courage  well  was  tried, 

Had  made  the  vessel  heel. 
And  laid  her  on  her  side. 

A  land  breeze  shook  the  shrouds, 

And  she  was  overset ; 
Down  went  the  Royal  George, 

"With  all  her  crew  complete. 

Toll  for  the  brave — 

Brave  Kempenfeldt  is  gone, 
His  last  sea  fight  is  fought — 

His  work  of  glory  done. 

It  was  not  in  the  battle  j 
No  tempest  gave  the  shock  j 

Shp.  STtrnno-  no  fatal  loolr. 

She  ran  upon  no  rock. 


%' 


■#'S^'' 


i/ 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OP   WAR. 


115 


*al  Kem- 
t  of  the 
women, 
)erished. 
5  saved; 
Those 
1  up  by 
housand 
1.  The 
•ly  event 


M 


%' 


>«^' 


». 


His  sword  was  in  its  sheath ; 

His  fingers  held  the  pen , 
When  Kerapenleldt  went  down, 

With  twice  four  hundred  men. 

Weigh  the  vessel  up, 

Once  dreaded  by  our  foes ! 
And  mingle  with  our  cup 

The  tear  that  England  owes.  • 

Her  timbers  yet  are  sound. 

And  she  may  float  again, 
Full  charged  with  England's  thunder, 

And  plough  the  distant  main. 

But  Kempenfeldt  is  gone, 

His  victories  are  o'er ; 
And  he,  and  his  eight  hundred. 

Shall  plough  the  wave  no  more. 

To  return  to  my  narrative.  Our  ship,  having 
been  at  sea  two  years,  needed  overhauling.  She 
was  therefore  taken  into  one  of  the  splendid  dry 
docks  in  the  Plymouth  dock-yard,  while  the  crew 
were  placed,  for  the  time  being,  on  board  an  old 
hulk.  A  week  or  two  sufficed  for  this  task,  when 
we  returned  to  our  old  quarters.  She  looked  like 
a  new  ship,  having  been  gaily  painted  within  and 
without.  We,  too,  soon  got  newly  rigged;  for 
orders  had  reached  us  from  the  admiralty  office 
to  prepare  for  sea,  and  we  were  paid  off.  Most 
of  the  men  laid  out  part  of  their  money  in  gettihg 
new  clothine" ;  some  of  it  went  to  buv  nictnrps, 
looking-glasses,  crockery  ware,  &c.,  to  ornament 


JRi 


M 


! 


W. 


\V 


116 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE   MAIN   DECK. 


our  berths,  so  that  they  bore  some  resemblance  to 
a  cabin.  The  women  w^re  ordered  ashore,  and 
we  were  once  more  ready  for  sea. 

The  practice  of  paying  seamen  at  long  inter- 
vals, is  the  source  of  many  evils.  Among  these, 
is  the  opportunity  given  to  pursers  to  practise  ex- 
tortion on  the  men — an  opportunity  they  are  not 
slow  in  improving.  The  spendthrift  habits  of 
most  sailors  leave  them  with  a  barely  sufficient 
quantity  of  clothing,  for  present  purposes,  when 
they  ship.  If  the  cruise  is  long,  they  are,  conse- 
quently, obliged  to  draw  from  the  purser.  This 
gentleman  is  ever  ready  to  supply  them,  but  at 
ruinous  prices.  Poor  articles  with  high  prices  are 
to  be  found  in  his  hands ;  these  poor  Jack  must 
take  of  necessity,  because  he  cannot  get  his  wages 
until  he  is  paid  off.  Hence,  what  with  poor  arti- 
cles, high  charges  and  false  charges,  the  purser 
almost  always  has  a  claim  which  makes  Jack's 
actual  receipts  for  two  or  three  years'  service, 
wofully  small.  Were  he  paid  at  stated  periods, 
he  could  make  his  own  purchases  as  he  needed 
them.  The  sailor  is  aware  of  this  evil,  but  he 
only  shows  his  apprehension  of  it  in  his  usually 
good-humored  manner.  If  he  sees  a  poor,  ill-cut 
garment,  he  will  laugh,  and  say  it  "  looks  like  a 
purser's  shirt  on  a  handspike."  These  are  small 
matters,  but  they  go  to  make  up  the  sum  total  of 
a  seaman's  life,  and  should  therefore  be  remedied 
as  far  as  possible. 

Our  preparations   all   completed,    the    hoarse 


* 


SIX  YEARS    IN    A    MAN    OP   WAR. 


117 


♦ 


voice  of  the  boatswain  rang  through  the  ship, 
crying,  **  All  hands  up  anchor,  ahoy ! "  In  a 
trice,  the  capstan  bars  were  shipped,  the  fifer  was 
at  his  station  playing  a  lively  tune,  the  boys  were 
on  the  main  deck  holding  on  to  the  "  nippers," 
ready  to  pass  them  to  the  men,  who  put  them 
round  the  "  messenger"  and  cable ;  then,  amid  the 
cries  of  "  Walk  round !  heave  away,  my  lads!" 
accompanied  by  the  shrill  music  of  the  fife,  the 
anchor  rose  from  its  bed,  and  was  soon  dangling 
under  our  bows.  The  sails  were  then  shaken 
out,  the  ship  brought  before  the  wind,  and  we 
were  once  more  on  our  way  to  sea.  We  were 
directed  to  cruise  off  the  coast  of  France  this 
time  ;  where,  as  we  v/ere  then  at  war  with  the 
French,  we  were  likely  to  find  active  service. 

We  first  made  the  French  port  of  Rochelle; 
from  thence,  we  sailed  to  Brest,  which  was  closely 
blockaded  by  a  large  British  fleet,  consisting  of 
one  three-decker,  with  several  seventy-fours,  be- 
sides frigates  and  small  craft.  We  joined  this 
fleet,  and  came  to  an  anchor  in  Basque  Roads, 
to  assist  in  the  blockade.  Our  first  object  was  to 
bring  a  large  French  fleet,  greatly  superior  to  us 
in  size  and  numbers,  to  an  engagement.  With 
all  our  manoeuvring,  we  could  not  succeed  in 
enticing  them  from  their  snug  berth  in  the  harbor 
of  Brest,  where  they  were  safely  moored,  de- 
fended by  a  heavy  fort,  and  by  a  chain  crossing 
the  harbor,  to  prevent  the  ingress  of  any  force  that 
might  be  bold  enough  to  attempt  to  cut  them  out. 


%i   .v;' 


II  • 


if 
ij 
M 


t      A. 


118  A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   VECK. 

Sometimes  we  sent  a  frigate  or  two  as  near  their 
fort  as  they  dared  to  venture,  in  order  to  entice 
them  out ;  at  other  times,  the  whole  fleet  would 
get  under  weigh  and  stand  out  to  sea  ;  but  with- 
out success.     The  Frenchmen  were  either  afraid 
we  had  a  larger  armament  than   was  visible  to 
them,   or   they   had   not   forgotten  the   splendid 
victories  of  Nelson  at  the   Nile  and  Trafalgar. 
Whatever   they   thought,  they  kept   their   ships 
beyond  the  reach  of  our  guns.     Sometimes,  how- 
ever,  their  frigates  would  creep  outside  the  forts, 
when    we  gave   them  chase,   but   seldom   went 
beyond  the  exchange  of  a  few  harmless  shots. 
This  was  what  our  men  called  "  boy's  play ;"  and 
they  were  heartily  glad  when  we  were  ordered  to 
return  to  Plymouth. 

After  just  looking  into  Plymouth  harbor,  our 
orders  were  countermanded,  and  we  returned  to 
the  coast  of  France.  Having  accomplished  about 
one  half  the  dist^e,  the  man  at  the  mast-head 
cried  out,  «  Sail  M!" 

"Where  away?"  (what  direction ?)  responded 
the  officer  of  the  deck.  The  man  having  re- 
plied, the  officer  again  asked,  "What  does  she 
look  like?" 

"  She  looks  small ;  I  cannot  tell,  sir." 
In  a  few  minutes  the  officer  hailed  again,  by 
shouting,  "  Mast  hoad,  there  !  what  does  she  look 
like  ?  " 

This  was  rather  a  novel  announcement;  for 


I 


fm 


w. 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A    MAN    OF   WAR. 


119 


I 


what  could  a  small  sail-boat  do  out  on  the  wide 
ocean  ?  But  a  few  minutes  convinced  us  that  it 
was  even  so ;  for,  from  the  deck,  we  could  see  a 
small  boat,  with  only  a  man  and  a  boy  on  board. 
They  proved  to  be  two  French  prisoners  of  war, 
who  had  escaped  from  an  English  prison,  and, 
having  stolen  a  small  boat,  were  endeavoring-  to 
make  this  perilous  voyage  to  their  native  home. 
Poor  Tollows !  they  looked  sadly  disappointed  at 
finding  themselves  once  more  in  British  hands. 
They  had  already  been  in  prison  for  some  time ; 
they  were  now  doomed  to  go  with  us,  in  sight  of 
their  own  sunny  France,  and  then  be  torn  away 
again,  carried  to  England,  and  imprisoned  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  No  wonder  they  looked 
sorrowful,  when,  after  having  hazarded  life  for 
home  and  liberty,  they  found  both  snatched  from 
them  in  a  moment,  by  their  unlucky  rencontre 
with  our  frigate.  I  am  sure  we  should  all  have 
been  glad  to  have  missed  them.  But  this  is  only 
one  of  the  consequences  of  war. 

Having  joined  the  blockading  fleet  again,  we 
led  the  same  sort  of  life  as  before  :  now  at  an- 
chor, then  giving  chase ;  now  standing  in  shore, 
and  anon  standing  out  to  sea ;  firing,  and  being 
fired  at,  without  once  coming  into  actio* i. 

Determined  to  accomplish  some  exploit  or  other, 
our  captain  ordered  an  attempt  to  be  made  at 
cutting  out  some  of  the  French  small  craft  that 
lay  in  shore.  We  were  accustomed  to  send  out 
our  barges  almost  every  night,  in  search  of  what- 


.  i. : 


i! 


■*«|lilf 


120 


A   VOICE   FROM   THE   MAIN   DECK. 


ever  prey  they  might  capture.  But  on  this  occa- 
sion the  preparations  were  more  formidable  than 
usual.  The  oars  were  muffled ;  the  boat's  crew 
increased,  and  every  man  was  armed  to  the  teeth. 
The  cots  were  got  ready  on  board,  in  case  any  of 
the  adventurers  should  return  wounded.  Cots 
are  used  to  sleep  in  by  ward-room  officers  and 
captains ;  midshipmen  and  sailors  using  ham- 
mocks. But  a  number  of  cots  are  always  kept 
in  a  vessel  of  war,  for  the  benefit  of  wounded 
men ;  they  differ  from  a  hammock,  in  being 
square  at  the  bottom,  and  consequently  more 
easy.  The  service  on  which  the  barge  was  sent 
being  extremely  dangerous,  the  cots  were  got 
ready  to  receive  the  wounded,  should  there  be 
any  ;  but  notwithstanding  these  expressive  prepa- 
rations, the  brave  fellows  went  off  in  as  fine  spirits 
as  if  they  had  been  going  on  shore  for  a  drunken 
spree.  Such  is  the  contempt  of  danger  that 
prevails  among  sailors. 

We  had  no  tidings  of  this  adventure  until 
morning,  when  I  was  startled  by  hearing  three 
cheers  from  the  watch  on  deck ;  these  were  an- 
swered by  three  more  from  a  party  that  seemed 
approaching  us.  I  ran  on  deck  just  as  our  men 
came  alongside  with  their  bloodless  prize — a  lug- 
ger, laden  with  French  brandy,  wine  and  Castile 
soap.  They  had  m.ade  this  capture  without 
difficultv ;  for  the  crew  of  the  lue-o-er  made  their 
escape  in  a  boat,  on  the  first  intimation  of  danger. 
As  this  was  our  first  prize,  we  christened  her  the 


e  until 
y  three 
ere  an- 
seemed 
ur  men 
-a  lug- 
Castile 
without 
le  their 
danger, 
her  the 


4 


i 


SIX    YEARS    IN   A   MAN    OF    WAR. 


121 


IS  occa- 
ile  than 
.'s  crew 
e  teeth, 
any  of 
Cots 
3rs  and 
y  ham- 
ys  kept 
'ounded 
I  being 
f  more 
ras  sent 
2re  got 
iiere  be 
;  prepa- 
;  spirits 
irunken 
er  that 


Young  Mr  ?edonian.      She  was  sent  to  the  admi- 
ral ;  but  what  became  of  her,  I  never  heard. 

Before  sending  her  away,  however,  the  officers, 
having  a  peculiar  itching  for  some  of  the  brandy, 
took  the  liberty  of  replenishing  their  empty  bottles 
from  the  hold.  This,  with  true  aristocratic  liber- 
ality, they  kept  to  themselves,  without  offering 
the  smallest  portion  to  the  crew.  Some  of  them 
showed,  by  their  conduct  afterwards,  that  this 
brandy  possessed  considerable  strength.  We  had 
no  further  opportunity  tO  signalize  either  ourselvt  j 
or  our  frigate  by  our  heroism  at  Brest ;  for  we 
were  soon  after  ordered  back  to  Plymouth,  where, 
for  a  short  time,  we  lay  at  our  old  anchorage 
ground. 

11 


)V< 


n 


if 


I 


I 


iiPI 


!    Ill 


II' 


m 


I  |li 


^  CHAPTER    VI. 

Rumor  of  war— A  v^wai  mistake— Departure  IVom  Torbay 
with  a  convoy— A  strict  look-out— Sabbath  at  sea— A 
sail— ILiiuls  beat  to  quarters — Battle  between  the  Mace- 
donian and  the  United  Stales— Awful  destruction  <^ 
life- -Surrender  of  the  Macedonian— Copy  of  a  letter 
fl-om  Captain  Cardcji,  to  the  British  admiralty  office, 
describing  the  action,  with  a  list  of  the  killed  and 
wounded. 

At  Plymouth  wo  heard  some  vague  rumors  of 
a  declaration  of  war  against  America.  More  than 
this,  we  could  not  learn,  since  the  utmost  care  was 
taken  to  prevent  our  being  fully  informed.  The 
reason  of  this  secrecy  was,  probably,  because  we 
had  several  Americans  in  our  crew,  most  of  whom 
were  pressed  men,  as  befove  slated.  These  men, 
had  they  been  certain  that  war  liad  broken  out, 
would  have  given  themselves  up  as  prisoners  of 
war,  and  claimed  exemption  from  that  unjust  ser- 
vice, which  compelled  them  to  act  with  the  ene- 
mies of  their  country.  This  was  a  privilege 
which  the  magnanimity  of  our  officers  ought  to 
have  offered  them.  They  had  already  perpetrated 
a  grievous  wrong  upon  them  in  impressing  them  ; 
it  was  adding  cruelty  to  injustice,  to  compel  their 
service  in  a  war  against  their  own  nation.     But 


■1 


SIX  I'MRS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 

1* 


123 


m  Torbay 
It  sea — A 
the  Mace- 
uction  (^ 
f  a  letter 
Ity  office, 
:illed  and 


imors  of 
ore  than 
:are  was 
J.  The 
luse  we 
^f  whom 
se  men, 
ken  out, 
oners  of 
just  ser- 
the  ene- 
)rivilege 
night  to 
petrated 
g  them ; 
)el  their 
n,     But 


I 


■i 


the  (lifTicuhy  witn  naval  officers  is,  that  they  do 
not  treat  with  a  sailor  as  with  a  man.  They 
know  what  is  fitting  between  each  other  as  offi- 
cers ;  hut  thoy  treat  their  crews  on  anotlier  prin- 
ciple ;  they  are  apt  to  look  at  them  as  pieces  of 
living  mechanism,  horn  to  serve,  to  obey  their 
orders,  and  administer  to  their  wishes  without 
complaint.  This  is  alike  a  bad  morality  and  a  bad 
philosophy.  There  is  often  more  real  manhood 
in  the  forecastle  than  in  the  ward-room ;  and  until 
the  common  sailor  is  trcatrMJ  ns  a  man,  until  every 
feeling  of  human  nature  is  conceded  to  him  in 
naval  discipline — perfect,  rational  subordination 
will  never  be  attained  in  ships  of  war,  or  in  mer- 
chant vessels.  It  is  needless  to  tell  of  the  intel- 
lectual degradation  of  the  mass  of  seamen.  "  A 
man  's  a  man  for  a'  that ;"  and  it  is  this  very  sys- 
tem of  discipline,  this  treating  them  as  automatons, 
which  keeps  them  degraded.  When  will  human 
nature  put  more  confidence  in  itself? 

Leaving  Plymouth,  we  next  anchored,  for  a 
brief  space,  at  Torbay,  a  small  port  in  the  British 
Channel.  We  were  ordered  thence  to  convoy  a 
huge  East  India  merchant  vessel,  much  larger 
than  our  frigate,  and  having  five  hundred  troops 
on  board,  bound  to  the  East  Indies,  with  money  to 
pay  the  troops  stationed  there.  We  set  sail  in  a 
tremendous  gale  of  wind.  Both  ships  stopped 
two  days  at  Madeira  to  take  in  wine  and  a  few 
other  articles.  After  leaving  this  island,  we  kept 
her  company  two  days  more ;  and  then,  according 


124 


A   VOICK    FROM   TRR    MAIN   DECK. 


ft, 

1 

\ 

i ' 

i 

! 
1 

' 

lili! 


to  orders,  havintr  wished  her  success,  we  left  her 
to  pursue  her  voyag'^  while  we  returned  to  finish 
our  cruise. 

Thoui^^h  without  any  positive  information,  we 
now  felt  pretty  certain  that  our  government  was 
at  war  with  America.  Among  other  things,  our 
captain  appeared  more  anxious  than  usual ;  he  was 
on  deck  almost  all  the  time  ;  the  "  look-out"  aloft 
was  more  rigidly  ohserved  ;  and  every  little  while 
the  cry  of  "  Mast-head  there ! "  arrested  our  at- 
tention. 

It  is  customary  in  men  of  war  to  keep  men  at 
the  fore  and  main  mast-heads,  whose  duty  it  is  to 
give  notice  of  every  new  ohject  that  may  appear. 
They  arc  stationed  in  the  royal  yards,  if  they  are 
up,  but  if  not,  on  the  top-gallant  yards  :  at  night  a 
look-out  is  kept  on  the  fore  yard  only. 

Thus  we  passed  several  days ;  the  captain  run- 
ning up  and  down,  and  constantly  hailing  the  man 
at  the  mast-head  :  early  in  the  morning  he  began 
his  charge  "  to  keep  a  good  look-out,"  and  contin- 
ued to  repeat  it  until  night.  Indeed,  he  seemed 
almost  crazy  with  some  pressing  anxiety.  The 
men  felt  there  was  something  anticipated,  of  which 
they  were  ignorant ;  and  had  the  captain  heard  all 
their  remarks  upon  his  conduct,  he  would  not 
have  felt  very  highly  flattered.  Still,  everything 
went  on  as  usual ;  the  day  was  spent  in  the  ordi- 
nary duties  of  man-of-war  life,  and  the  evening 
in  telling  stories  of  things  most  rare  and  wonder- 
ful ;  for  your  genuine  old  tar  is  an  adept  in  spin- 


i 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN    OF   WAR. 


125 


3  left  her 
to  finish 

Ltion,  we 
nent  was 
ings,  our 
;  he  was 
>ut"  aloft 
tie  while 
[  our  at- 

)  men  at 
y  it  is  to 
'  appear, 
they  are 
t  night  a 

ain  run- 
the  man 
le  began 
1  contin- 
seemed 
y.  The 
)f  which 
leard  all 
>uld  not 
^rything 
he  ordi- 
evening 
wonder- 
in  spin- 


ning yarns,  and  some  of  ihem,  in  respect  to  variety 
and  len;;rtli,  m\s;hi  safely  aspire  to  a  place  beside 
the  great  magician  of  the  north,  Sir  Walter  Scott, 
or  any  of  those  prolific  heads  that  now  bring  forth 
such  abundance  of  fiction  to  feed  a  greedy  public, 
who  read  as  eagerly  as  our  men  used  to  listen. 
To  this  yarn-spinning  was  added  the  most  humor- 
ous singing,  sometimes  dashed  with  a  streak  of 
the  pathetic,  which  I  assure  my  readers  was  most 
touching;  especinlly  one  very  plaintive  melody, 
with  a  chorus  beginning  with, 

"Novv  if  our  ship  should  be  cast  away, 
It  would  be  our  lot  to  see  old  England  no  more," 

which  made  rather  a  melancholy  impression  on 
my  boyish  mind,  and  giive  rise  to  a  sort  of  presen- 
timent that  the  Macedonian  would  never  return 
home  again ;  a  presentiment  which  had  its  fulfil- 
ment in  a  manner  totally  unexpected  to  us  all. 
The  presence  of  a  shark  for  several  days,  with  its 
attendant  pilot  fish,  tended  to  strengthen  this  prev- 
alent idea. 

The  Sabbath  came,  and  it  brought  with  it  a 
stiflf  breeze.  We  usually  made  a  sort  of  holiday  of 
this  sacred  day.  After  breakfast  it  was  common 
to  muster  the  entire  crew  on  the  spar  deck,  dressed 
as  the  fancy  of  the  captain  might  dictate;  some- 
times in  blue  jackets  and  white  trowsers,  or  blue 
jackets  and  blue  trowsers ;  at  other  times  in  blue 
jacxiets,  scarlet  vests,  and  blue  or  white  trowsers ; 
with  our  bright  anchor  buttons  glancing  in  the 
11^ 


I 


1S6 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


?  ^. 


in 


I 


H 


i    -I 


\m 


sun,  and  our  black,  glossy  hats,  ornamented  with 
black  ribbons,  and  with  tlie  name  of  our  ship 
painted  on  them.  After  muster,  \vc  frequently  had 
church  service  read  by  the  captain ;  the  rest  of  the 
day  was  devoted  to  idleness.  But  we  were  des- 
tined to  spend  the  Sabbath,  just  introduced  to  the 
reader,  in  a  very  different  manner. 

We  had  scarcely  finished  breakfast,  before  the 
man  at  the  mast-head  shouted,  *'  Sail  ho ! " 

The  captain  rushed  upon  deck,  exclaiming, 
"Mast-head  there!" 

"Sir!" 

"  Where  away  is  the  sail  ? " 

The  precise  answer  to  this  question  I  do  not 
recollect,  but  the  captain  proceeded  to  ask,  "  What 
does  she  look  like  ?  " 

"A  square-rigged  vessel,  sir,"  was  the  reply 
of  the  look-out. 

After  a  few  minutes,  the  captain  shouted  again, 
*'  Mast-head  there ! 

"Sir!" 

"  What  does  she  look  like  ?" 

"  A  large  ship,  sir,  standing  toward  us  ! " 

By  this  time,  most  of  the  crew  were  on  deck, 
eagerly  straining  their  eyes  to  obtain  a  glimpse 
of  the  approaching  ship,  and  murmuring  their 
opinions  to  each  other  on  her  probable  character. 
Then  came  the  voice  of  the  captain,  shouting, 
**  Keep  silence,  fore  and  aft ! "  Silence  being 
secured,  he  hailed  the  look-out,  who,  to  his  ques- 
tion of  "  What  does  she  look  like  ?  "  replied,  "  A 
large  frigate,  bearing  down  upon  us,  sir ! " 


I 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAB. 


127 


ited  with 
our  ship 
jntly  had 
3st  of  the 
rere  des- 
ed  to  the 

;fore  the 

;laiming| 


I  do  not 
, "  What 

he  reply 

id  again, 


)n  deck, 
glimpse 
ig  their 
laracter. 
houting, 
e  being 
lis  ques- 
ied,  "  A 


j  A  whisper  ran  along  the  crew  that  the  stran- 

'  ger  ship  was  a  Yankee   frigate.     Ine  thought 

was  confirmed  by  the  command  of  "  All  hands 

[I  clear  the  ship  for  action,  ahoy!"  The  drum  and 
fife  beat  to  quarters;  bulk-heads  were  knocked 
away;    the  guns  were  released  from  their  con- 

I  finement ;  the  whole  dread  paraphernalia  of  battle 
was  produced ;  and  after  the  lapse  of  a  few  min- 
utes of  hurry  and  confusion,  every  man  and  boy 
was  at  his  post,  ready  to  do  his  best  service  for 
his  country,  except  the  band,  who,  claiming  ex- 
emption from  the  affray,  safely  stowed  themselves 
away  in  the  cable  tier.  We  had  only  one  sick 
man  on  the  list,  and  he,  at  the  cry  of  battle,  hur- 
ried from  his  cot,  feeble  as  he  was,  to  take  his 
post  of  danger.  A  few  of  the  junior  midshipmen 
were  stat-'oned  below,  on  the  berth  deck,  with 
orders,  g"  ;n  in  our  hearing,  to  shoot  any  man 
who  attempted  to  run  from  his  quarters. 

Our  men  were  all  in  good  spirits ;  though  they 
did  not  scruple  to  express  the  wish  that  the  com- 
ing foe  was  a  Frenchman  rather  than  a  Yankee. 
We  had  been  told,  by  the  Americans  on  board, 
that  frigates  in  the  American  service  carried  more 
and  heavier  metal  than  ours.  This,  together  with 
our  consciousness  of  superiority  over  the  French 
at  sea,  led  us  to  a  preference  for  a  French  antag- 
onist. 

The  Americans  among  our  number  felt  quite 
disconcerted,  at  the  necessity  which  compelled 
them  to   fight  against   their  own   countrymen. 


i.^f. 


m 


128 


A  voirr  vium  thk  main  dkck. 


m 


f  i 


Ojio  of  llioin,  uniruMl  John  Card,  ns  bravo  n  soa- 
miiii  as  v.\'vv  hod  a  plaiiK,  vnjlumd  to  prosont 
himself  lo  th(>  ra|)taiM,  as  a  prisonor,  CranUy 
iloclariiio;  his  ol.jcrlioiis  to  linht.  That  od'KUT, 
very  uiincnorously,  orch'rcd  him  to  his  ipmrtcrs, 
tliroati'MJtis;  to  shoot  him  if  ho  ma(h'  the  request 
airain.  IVior  leHow  !  Il(>  ol)ey(>(l  the  iiiijusi  com- 
inaiid,  and  was  U'lWrd  hy  a  sliot  from  his  own 
countrymen.  This  fact  is  mor(>  disirraceful  to  tho 
captain  of  the  Maee(h)nian,  tlian  oven  the  loss  of 
his  ship.  It  was  a  i^ross  and  a  i)alpablo  violation 
of  file  riohts  of  man. 

As    the   approacliinn-    ship   showed    American 
colors,  all  douht  of  her  character  was  at  an  end. 
*'  We  must  lioju  her,"  was  the  conviction  of  every 
breast.      Every  possible   arranoenicmt  that  could 
insure  success,  was  accordinoly  made.     The  guns 
were  shotted;  the  matches  liohted;  for,  although 
our  j2-uns  were  all  furnished  with  lirst-ratc  locks, 
they  were  also   provided  with  matches,  attached 
by  lanyards,  in  case  the  lork  should  miss  firo.     A 
lieutenant  then  passed  throuirh  the  ship,  directing, 
the  marines   and  boarders,  who  were   furnished 
with  pikes,  cutlasses,  and  pistols,  how  to  proceed 
if  it  should  be  necessary  to  hoard  the  enemy.    He 
was  followed  by  the  captain,  who  exhorted   the 
men  to  fidelity  and  courage,  urging  upon  their 
consideration  the  well-known  motto  of  the  brave 
Nelson,  "England  expects  ev^  man  to  do  his 
duty."     In  addition  to  all  tliese  nrennrntinns  on 
deck,  some  men  were  stationed  in  the  tops  with 


SIX   YRAns    IN    A    MAN    OF   WAR. 


129 


vo  n.  sca- 
I)  prosont 
•,  Iran  lily 
it  od'KH^r, 

(luartors, 
e  request 
jusi  com- 

his  own 
fill  lo  tho 
e  loss  of 
violation 

American 
an  end. 
of  every 
lat  could 
riie  i>-uns 
although 
te  locks, 
attached 
fire.     A 
[lirecting, 
urnished 
proceed 
ny.    He 
rted  the 
on  their 
le  brave 
)  do  his 


ps  with 


Li 


small-arms,  whose  duty  it  was  to  attend  to  trim- 
ming the  sails,  and  to  use  their  muskets,  provided 
we  came  to  close  action.  There  were  otliers  also 
helovv,  called  sail  trimmers,  to  assist  in  working  the 
ship,  should  it  he  necessary  to  shift  hei  position 
during];-  the  ])attle. 

My  station  was  at  the  fifth  frxm  on  the  main 
deck.  It  was  my  duty  to  supply  my  ^un  with 
powder,  a  boy  beinir  appointed  to  each  gun  in  the 
ship  on  the  side  we  engaged,  for  this  purpose.  A 
woollen  screen  was  placed  before  the  entrance  to 
the  magazine,  with  a  hole  in  it,  through  which  the 
cartridges  were  passed  to  the  boys ;  we  received 
them  there,  and  covering  them  with  our  jackets, 
hurried  to  our  respective  guns.  These  precau- 
tions are  observed  to  prevent  the  powder  taking 
fire  before  it  reaches  the  gun. 

Thus  we  all  stood,  awaiting  orders,  in  motion- 
less suspense.  At  last  we  fired  three  guns  from 
the  larboard  side  of  the  main  deck ;  this  was  fol- 
lowed  by  the  command,  "  Cease  firing;  you  are 
throwing  away  your  shot !" 
.  Then  came  the  order  to  "  wear  ship,"  and  pre- 
pare to  attack  the  enemy  with  our  starboard  guns. 
Soon  after  this  I  heard  a  firing  from  some  other 
quarter,  which  I  at  first  supposed  to  be  a  dis- 
charge from  our  quarter  deck  guns;  though  it 
proved  to  be  the  roar  of  the  enomy's  cannon. 

A  strange  noise,  such  as  I  had  never  heard 
before,  next  arrested  my  attention;  it  sounded 
like  the  tearing  of  sails,  just  over  our  heads.    This 


■til  ■-■■, 


130 


A   VOICE    FRO:^    THE    MAIN    DECK. 


I      I 


iiii 

■'-  .'III ,  I 


• .?!  1 


1        I 


'h   ill 


ill 


I  soon  ascertained  to  be  the  wind  of  the  enemy's 
shot.  The  firinc:,  after  a  few  minutes'  cessation, 
recommenced.  Tlie  roaring  of  cannon  could  now 
be  heard  from  all  parts  of  our  trembling  ship,  and, 
minoflinn:  as  it  did  with  that  of  our  foep  it  made 
a  most  hideous  noise.  By-and-by  I  heard  the  shot 
strike  the  sides  of  our  ship  ;  the  whole  scene  grew 
indescribably  confused  and  liorrible ;  it  nas  like 
some  awfully  tremendous  thunder-storm,  whose 
deafening  roar  is  attended  by  incessant  streaks 
of  lightning,  carrying  death  in  every  fla'^h,  and 
strewing  the  ground  with  the  victims  of  its  wrath  : 
only,  in  our  case,  the  scene  was  rendered  more 
horrible  than  that,  by  the  presence  of  torrents  of 
blood  which  dyed  our  decks. 

Though  the  recital  may  be  painful,  yet,  as  it 
will  reveal  the  horrors  of  war,  and.  show  at  what  a 
fearful  price  a  victory  is  won  or  lost,  I  will  pre- 
sent the  reader  with  things  as  they  met  my  eye 
during  the  progress  of  this  dreadful  fight.  I  was 
busily  supplying  my  gun  with  powder,  when  I 
saw  blood  suddenly  fly  from  the  arm  of  a  man 
stationed  at  our  gun.  1  saw  nothing  strike  him ; 
the  effect  alone  was  visible ;  in  an  instant,  the 
third  lieutenant  tied  his  handkerchief  round  the 
wounded  arm,  and  sent  the  groaning  wretch  below 
to  the  surgeon. 

The  cries  of  the  wounded  now  rang  through  all 
parts  of  the  ship.  These  were  carried  to  the 
cockpit  as  fast  as  they  fell,  while  those  more  for- 
tunate men,  who  were  killed  outright,  were  imme- 


H 


SIX    VEARS    IN    A   MAN    OF    WAIi. 


131 


enemy's 
cessation, 
ould  now 
ship,  and, 
!,  it  made 
1  the  shot 
ene  grew 
^vas  like 
n,  whose 
t  streaks 
^la'^h,  and 
ts  wrath : 
red  more 
rrents  of 

yet,  as  it 
at  what  a 
will  pre- 
t  my  eye 
t.  I  was 
,  when  I 
)f  a  man 
:ike  him ; 
stant,  the 
ound  the 
tch  below 

rough  all 
;d  to  the 
more  for- 
;re  imme- 


f 


diately  thrown  overboard.     As   I  v/as  stationed 
but  a  short  distance  from  the  main  liatchway,  I 
could    catch  a   glance   at   all   who  were    carried 
below.     A  glance  was  all  I  could  indulge  in,  for 
the  boys  belonging  to  the  guns  next  to  mine  were 
wounded  in  the  early  part  of  the  action,  and  I  had 
to  spring  with  all  my  might  to  keep  three  or  four 
guns  supplied  with  cartridges.     I  saw  two  of  these 
lads    fnll    nearly    together.     One    of    them   was 
struck  in  the  log  by  a  large  shot;  he  had  to  suffer 
amputation  above  the  wound.     The  other  had  a 
grape  or  canister  shot  sent  through  his  ancle.     A 
stout  Yorkshireman  lifted  him  in  his  arms,  and 
hurried  him  to  the  cockpit.     He  had  his  foot  cut 
off,  and  was  thus  made  lame  for  life.     Two  of  the 
boys  stationed  on  the  quarter  deck  were  killed. 
They  were  both  Portuguese.    A  man,  who  saw  one 
of  them  killed,  afterwards  told  me  that  his  powder 
caught  fire  and  burnt  the  flesh  almost  off  his  face. 
In  this  pitiable  situation,  the  agonized  boy  lifted 
up   both   hands,  as    if  imploring  relief,  when  a 
passing  shot  instantly  cut  him  in  two. 

I  was  an  eye-witness  to  a  sight  equally  revolting. 
A  man  named  Aldrich  had  one  of  his  hands  cut 
off  by  a  shot,  and  almost  at  the  same  moment  he 
received  another  shot,  which  tore  open  his  bowels 
in  a  terrible  manner.  As  he  fell,  two  or  three 
men  caught  him  in  their  arms,  and,  as  he  could 
not  live,  threw  him  overboard. 

One  of  the  officers  in  my  division  also  fell  in 
my  sight.     He  was  a  noble-hearted  fellow,  named 


1 

r 

■ 

] 

132 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN    DECK. 


Nan  KivcU.  A  grape  or  canister  shot  struck  him 
near  the  heart :  exclaiming,  "  Oh  !  my  God  !"  he 
fell,  and  was  carried  below,  where  he  shortly  after 
died. 

Mr.  Hope,  our  first  lieutenant,  was  also  slightly 
wounded  by  a  grummet,  or  small  iron  ring,  prob- 
ably torn  from  a  hammock  clew  by  a  shot.  He 
went  below,  shouting  to  the  men  to  fight  on. 
Having  had  his  wound  dressed,  he  came  up  again, 
shouting  to  us  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  and  bidding 
us  fight  with  all  our  might.  There  was  not  a 
mail  in  the  ship  but  would  have  rejoiced  had  he 
been  in  the  place  of  our  master's  mate,  the  unfor- 
tunate Nan  Kivell. 

The  battle  went  on.  Our  men  kept  cheering 
with  all  their  might.  I  cheered  with  them, 
though  I  confess  I  scarcely  knew  for  what.  Cer- 
tainly there  was  nothing  very  inspiriting  in  the 
aspect  of  things  where  I  was  stationed.  So  ter- 
rible had  been  the  work  of  destruction  round  us, 
it  was  termed  the  slaughter-house.  Not  only  had 
we  had  several  boys  and  men  killed  or  wounded, 
but  several  of  the  guns  were  disabled.  The  one 
I  belonged  to  had  a  piece  of  the  muzzle  knocked 
out ;  and  when  the  ship  rolled,  it  struck  a  beam 
of  the  upper  deck  with  such  force  as  to  become 
jammed  and  fixed  in  that  position.  A  twenty- 
four  pound  shot  had  also  passed  through  the 
screen  of  the  magazine,  immediately  over  the  ori- 
fice through  which  we  passed  our  powder.  The 
schoolmaster  received  a  death  wound.    1  ue  brave 


I 


ruck  him 
Jod ! "  he 
)rtly  after 

)  slightly 
nsr,  prob- 
hot.  He 
fiirht  on. 
up  again, 
X  bidding 
ras  not  a 
d  had  he 
he  unfor- 

cheering 
th  them, 
at.  Cer- 
ig  in  the 
So  ter- 
•ound  us, 
only  had 
wounded, 
The  one 
I  knocked 
k  a  beam 
)  become 
L  twenty- 
Dugh  the 
r  the  ori- 
er.  The 
L  ae  brave 


SIX   YEAHS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


133 


W| 


boatswain,  who  came  from  the  sick  bay  to  the  din 
of  battle,  was  fastening  a  stopper  on  a  back-stay 
which  had  been  shot  away,  when  his  head  was 
smashed  to  pieces  by  a  cannon-ball ;  another  man, 
going  to  complete  the  unfinished  task,  was  also" 
struck  down.  Another  of  our  midshipmen  also 
received  a  severe  wound.  The  unfortunate  ward- 
room steward,  who,  the  reader  will  recollect,  at- 
tempted to  cut  his  throat  on  a  former  occasion, 
was  killed.  A  fellow  named  John,  who,  for  some 
petty  offence,  had  been  sent  on  board  as  a  punish- 
ment, was  carried  past  me,  wounded.  I  distinctly 
heard  the  large  blood-drops  fall  pat,  pat,  pat,  on 
the  deck  ;  his  wounds  were  mortal.  Even  a  poor 
goat,  kept  by  the  ofTicers  for  her  milk,  did  not 
escape  the  general  carnage ;  her  hind  legs  were 
shot  off,  and  poor  Nan  was  thrown  overboard. 

Such  was  the  t*3rrible  scene,  amiu  which  we 
kept  on  our  shouting  and  firing.  Our  men  fought 
like  tigers.  Some  of  them  pulled  off  their  jackets, 
others  their  jackets  and  vests ;  while  some,  still 
more  determined,  had  taken  off  their  shirts,  and, 
with  nothing  but  a  handkerchief  tied  round  the 
waistbands  of  their  trowsers,  fought  like  heroes. 
Jack  Sadler,  whom  the  reader  will  recollect,  was 
one  of  these.  I  also  observed  a  boy,  named  Cooper, 
stationed  at  a  gun  some  distance  from  the  mao-a- 
zine.  He  came  to  and  fro  on  the  full  run,  and 
appeared  to  be  as  "merry  as  a  cricket."     The 

;d  him  along,  occasionally, 


♦•r\ii»/^     l»/%Ti"if^ 


.■v\  *%  *-\  1 


^T 


|o 


'f 


liii 


"til 


ilil 


134 


A    VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN    DECK. 


by  saying,  "  Well  done,  my  boy,  you  are  worth 
your  w.eight  in  gold." 

I  have  often  been  asked  what  were  my  feelings 
during  this  fight.  I  felt  pretty  much  as  1  suppose 
every  one  does  at  such  a  time.  That  men  are  with- 
out thought  when  they  stand  amid  the  dying  and  the 
dead,  is  too  absurd  an  idea  to  be  entertained  a  mo- 
ment. We  all  appeared  cheerful,  but  I  know  that 
many  a  serious  thought  ran  through  my  mind :  still, 
what  could  we  do  but  keep  up  a  semblance,  at  least, 
of  animation?  To  run  from  our  quarters  would 
have  been  certain  death  from  the  hands  of  our  own 
officers;  to  give  way  to  gloom,  or  to  show  fear, 
would  do  no  good,  and  might  brand  us  with  the 
name  of  cowards,  and  ensure  certain  defeat.  Our 
only  true  philosophy,  therefore,  was  to  make  the 
best  of  our  situation,  by  fighting  bravely  and  cheer- 
fully. I  thought  a  great  deal,  however,  of  the  other 
world ;  every  groan,  every  falling  man,  told  me  that 
the  next  instant  I  might  be  before  the  Judge  of  all 
the  earth.  For  this,  I  felt  unprepared;  but  being 
without  any  particular  knowledge  of  religious 
truth,  I  satisfied  myself  by  repeating  again  and 
again  the  Lord's  prayer,  and  promising  that  if 
spared  I  would  be  more  attentive  to  religious  duties 
than  ever  before.  This  promise  I  had  no  doubt,  at 
the  time,  of  keeping ;  but  I  have  learned  since  that 
it  is  easier  to  make  promises  amidst  the  roar  of  the 
battle's  thunder,  or  in  the  horrors  of  shipwreck, 
than  to  keep  them  when  danger  is  absent,  and 
safety  smiles  upon  our  path. 


I 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF  WAR. 


135 


e  worth 

feelings 
suppose 
ire  with- 
;  and  the 
d  a  mo- 
low  that 
id:  still, 
at  least, 
s  would 
our  own 
)w  fear, 
vith  the 
t.  Our 
lake  the 
d  cheer- 
be  other 
me  that 
^e  of  all 
It  being 
eligious 
lin  and 
that  if 
s  duties 
^oubt,  at 
rice  that 
r  of  the 
p  wreck, 
nt,  and 


While  these  thoughts  secretly  agitated  my 
bosom,  the  din  of  battle  continued.  Grape  and 
canister  shot  were  pouring  through  our  port- 
holes like  leaden  rain,  carrying  death  in  their 
trail.  The  large  shot  came  against  the  ship's 
side  like  iron  hail,  shaking  her  to  the  very  keel, 
or  passing  through  her  timbers,  and  scattering 
terrific  splinters,  which  did  a  more  appalling  work 
than  even  their  own  death-giving  blows.  The 
reader  may  form  an  idea  of  the  effect  of  grape 
and  canister,  when  he  is  told  that  grape  shot  is 
formed  by  seven  or  eight  balls  confined  to  an  iron 
and  tied  in  a  cloth.  These  balls  are  scattered  by 
the  explosion  of  ihe  powder.  Canister  shot  is 
made  by  filling  a  powder  canister  with  balls,  each 
as  large'  as  two  or  three  musket  balls ;  these  also 
scatter  with  direful  efiect  when  discharged.  What 
then  with  splinters,  cannon  balls,  grape  and  can- 
ister poured  incessantly  upon  us,  the  reader  may 
be  assured  that  the  work  of  death  went  on  in  a  man- 
ner which  must  have  been  satisfactory  even  to  the 
King  of  Terrors  himself. 

Suddenly,  the  rattling  of  the  iron  hail  ceased. 
We  were  ordered  to  cease  firing.  A  profound 
silence  ensued,  broken  only  by  the  stifled  groans 
of  the  brave  sufferers  below.  It  was  soon  ascer- 
tained that  the  enemy  had  shot  ahead  to  repair 
damages,  for  she  was  not  so  disabled  but  she  could 
sail  without  difficulty ;  while  we  were  so  cut  up 
that  we  lay  utterly  helpless.  Our  head  braces 
were  shot  away;    the  fore  and  main  top-masts 


336 


r ; 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN    DECK. 


were  gone;  the  mizzen  mast  hung  over  the  stern, 
having  carried  several  men  over  in  its  fall :  we 
were  in  the  state  of  a  complete  wreck. 

A  council  was  now  held  among  the  officers  on 
the  quarter  deck.      Our  condition  was  perilous  in 
the  extreme :  victory  or  escape  was  alike  hope- 
less.     Our  ship  was  disabled ;  many  of  our  men 
were   killed,   and  many  more   wounded.      The 
enemy  would  without  doubt  bear  down  upon  us 
in  a  few  moments,  and,  as  she  could  now  choose 
her  own  position,  would  without  doubt  rake  us 
fore  and  aft.      Any  further  resistance  was  the.  j- 
fore  folly.      So,  in  spite  of  the  hot-brained  lieu- 
tenant, Mr.  Hope,  who  advised  them  not  to  strike, 
but  to  sink  alongside,  it  was  determined  to  strike 
our  bunting.     This  was  done  by  the  hands  of  a 
brave    fellow   named    Watson,   whose    saddened 
brow  told  how  severely  it  pained  his  lion  heart  to 
'  do  it.      To  me  it  was  a  pleasing  sight,  for  I  had 
seen  fighting  enough  for  one  Sabbath;  more  than 
I   wished  to   see  again  on  a   week   day.      His 
Britannic  Majesty's  frigate  Macedonian  was  now 
the  prize  of  the  American  frigate  United  States. 

Before  detailing  the  subsequent  occurrences  in 
my  history,  I  will  present  the  curious  reader  with 
a  copy  of  Captain  Garden's  letter  to  the  govern- 
ment, describing  this  action.  It  will  serve  to  show 
how  he  excused  himself  for  his  defeat,  a^  kell  as 
throw  some  light  on  those  parts  of  the  |Jon test 
which  were  invisible  to  me  at  my  station.  My 
mother  presented  me  witl^  this  document, 


'I 


my 


SIX   YEARS    IN    A    MAN    OF   WAR. 


137 


he  stern, 
fall :  we 

ficers  on 
rilous  in 
ke  hope- 
our  men 
[.      The 
upon  us 
V  choose 
rake  us 
IS  the»  j- 
ed  lieu- 
0  strike, 
0  strike 
ids  of  a 
iddened 
heart  to 
)r  I  had 
)re  than 
.      His 
as  now 
States, 
nces  in 
er  with 
g"overn- 
to  show 
Well  as 
^ontest 
.■■  My 
on  my 


I  ;■ 


return  to  England.  She  had  received  it  from 
Lord  Churchill,  and  had  carefully  preserved  it 
for  twenty  years. 

"  Admiralty  Office,  Dec.  29,  1812. 
"  Copy  of  a  letter  from  Captain  John  Surman 
Carden,  late  commander  of  His  Majesty's  ship 
the  Macedonian,  to  John  Wilson  Croker,  Esq., 
dated  on  board  the  American  ship  United  States, 
at  sea,  the  28th  October,  1812 : — 

"  Sir  :  It  is  with  the  deepest  regret,  I  have  to 
acquaint  you,  for  the  information  of  my  Lords 
Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty,  that  His  Majes- 
ty's late  ship  Macedonian  was  captured  on  the 
25th  instant,  by  the  United  States  ship  United 
States,  Commodore  Decatur  commander.  The 
detail  is  as  follows : 

"  A  short  time  after  daylight,  steering  N.  W.  by 
W.,  with  the  wind  from  the  southward,  in  latitude 
29°  N.,  and  longitude  29°  30'  W.,  in  the  execu- 
tion  of  their  Lordships'  orders,  a  sail  was  seen 
on  the  lee  beam,  which  I  immediately  stood  for, 
and  made  her  out  to  be  a  large  frigate,  under 
American  colors.  At  nine  o'clock  I  closed  with 
her,  and  she  commenced  the  action,  which  we 
returned ;  but  from  the  enemy  keeping  two  points 
off  the  wind,  I  was  not  enabled  to  get  as  close  to 
her  as  I  could  have  wished.  After  an  hour's 
action,  the  enemy  backed  and  came  to  the  wind, 
and  I  was  then  enabled  to  bring  her  to  close 
battle.  In  this  situation  I  soon  found  the  erem'^'s 
12=^' 


138 


A    VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN    DECK. 


.    i   i 


I 


force  too  superior  to  expect  success,  unless  some 
very  ibrtunate  chance  occurred  in  our  favor;  and 
with  this  liopo  I  continued  the  battle  to  two  hours 
and  ten  minutes ;  when,  having  the  mizzen  mast 
shot  away  by  the  hoard,  topmasts  shot  away  by  the 
caps,  main  yard  shot  in  pieces,  lower  masts  badly 
wounded,  lower  rigoino-  all  cut  to  pieces,  a  small 
proportion  only  of  the  fore-sail   left  to  the  fore- 
yard,  all  the  cfuns  on  the  quarter  deck  and  fore- 
castle disabled  but  two,  and  filled  with  wreck,  two 
also  on  the  main  deck  disabled,  and  several  shot 
between  wind  and  water,  a  very  great  proportion 
of  the  crew  killed  and  wounded,  and  the  enemy 
comparatively  in  good  order,  who  had  now  shot 
ahead,  and  was  about  to  place  himself  in  a  raking 
position,  without  our  being  enabled  to  return  the 
fire,  being  a  perfect  wreck  and  unmanageable  log ; 
I  deemed  it  prudent,  though  a  painfuf  extremity, 
to  surrender  His  Majesty's   ship;    nor  was  this 
dreadful  alternative  resorted  to  till  every  hope  of 
success  was  removed,  even  beyond  thereach  of 
chance;  nor  till,  I  trust  their  Lordships  will  be 
aware,  every  effort  had  been  made  against   the 
enemy  by  myself,  and  my  brave  officers'  and  men, 
nor  should  she  have  been  surrendered   whilst  a 
man   lived  on  board,  had  she  been  manageable. 
I  am  sorry  to  say  our  loss  is  very  severe ;  I  find 
by  this  day's  muster,   thirty-six  killed,  three  of 
whom  lingered  a  short  time  after  the  battle  ;  thirty- 
six    severely   wounded,    many   of  whom   cannot 
recover,  and  thirty-two    slightly  wounded,   who 
may  all  do  well ;  total,  one  hundred  and  faui. 


} 


SIX   YEARS    IN   A   MAN   OF  WAR. 


139 


3SS  some 
TOr;  and 
^vo  hours 
zen  mast 
ly  by  the 
sts  badly 
,  a  small 
the  fore- 
md  fore- 
'cck,  two 
'ral  shot 
oportion 
5  enemy 
low  shot 
a  raking 
urn  the 
ble  log-; 
tremity* 
vas  this 
hope  of 
each  of 
will  be 
nst   the 
id  men, 
ivhilst  a 
igeable. 
;  I  find 
iree  of 
thirty- 

i,  who 
fauc. 


"  The  truly  noble  and  animating  conduct  of  my 
ofTicers,  and  the  steady  bravery  of  my  crew,  to  tho 
last  moment  of  the  battle,  must  ever  render  them 
dear  to  their  country. 

"  My  first  lieutenant,  David  Hope,  was  severely 
wounded  in  the  head,  towards  the  close  of  the 
battle,  and  taken  below ;  but  was  soon  again  on 
deck,  displaying  that  greatness  of  mind  and  exer- 
tion, which,  though  it  may  be  equalled,  can  never 
be  excelled.  The  third  lieutenant,  John  Bulford, 
was  also  wounded,  but  not  obliged  to  quit  his 
quarters ;  second  lieutenant,  Samuel  Mottley,  and 
he  deserves  my  highest  acknowledgments.  The 
cool  and  steady  conduct  of  Mr.  Walker,  the  mas- 
ter, was  very  great  during  the  battle,  as  also 
that  of  Lieutenants  Wilson  and  Magill,  of  the 
marines. 

"  On  being  taken  on  board  the  enemy's  ship,  I 
ceased  to  wonder  at  the  result  of  the  battle. 
The  United  States  is  built  with  the  scantling 
of  a  seventy-four  gun-ship,  mounting  thirty  long 
twenty-four  pounders  (English  ship-guns)  on  her 
main  deck,  and  twenty-two  forty-two  pounders, 
carronades,  with  two  long  twenty-four  pounders, 
on  her  quarter  deck  and  forecastle  howitzer  guns 
in  her  tops,  and  a  travelling  carronade  on  her 
upper  deck,  with  a  complement  of  four  hundred 
and  seventy-eight  picked  men. 

"  The  enemy  has  suffered  much  in  masts,  rig- 
ging, and  hull,  above  and  below  w^ater.  Her  loss 
in  killed  and  wounded  I  am  not  aware  of;  but  I 


140 


A  VOICE   FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


know  a  lieutenant  and  six  men  have  been  thrown 
overboard.  Jno.  S.  Garden. 

"To  J„  W.  Croker,  Esq.,  Admiralty." 

Lord  Churchill  sent  the  above  letter,  with  a  list 
of  the  killed  and  wounded  annexed,  to  inform 
my  mother  that  the  name  of  her  ^  -r  ^-as  not 
among  the  number.  The  act  show^  ;  .vv  much 
he  could  sympathize  with  a  mother's  feelings. 


t  'ii 


♦ 


CHAPTER    VII. 

Scenes  in  the  cockpit  and  steerage,  after  the  battle — Arri- 
val of  the  victors  on  board — Part  of  our  crew  taken  on 
board  the  United  States — Good  feeling  between  all  par- 
ties— Macedonian  refitted — Meeting  of  the  two  com- 
manders— Sailing  qualities  of  the  United  States  inferior 
to  the  Macedonian — Difference  in  force  and  metal  be- 
tween the  two  frigates — The  influence  of  motives  in 
favor  of  the  Americans — Arrival  at  Newport — Burial 
of  Thomas  Whittaker — The  wounded  taken  on  shore — 
Visitors  at  Hurl-gate — Christmas  day — The  author 
escapes  from  the  Macedonian — Reaches  New  York — 
Boards  at  a  widow's  in  the  city — Good  news — Celebra- 
tion of  "Decatur's  victory — Decatur's  wife — Account  of 
the  fortunes  of  several  of  the  prisoners  who  ran  away. 

I  NOW  went  below,  to  see  how  matters  appeared 
there.  The  first  object  I  met  was  a  man  bearing 
a  limb,  which  had  just  been  detached  from  some 
suffering  wretch.  Pursuing  my  way  to  the  ward- 
room, I  necessarily  passed  through  the  steerage, 
which  was  strewed  with  the  wounded :  it  was  a 
sad  spectacle,  made  more  appalling  by  the  groans 
and  cries  which  rent  the  air.  Some  were  groan- 
ing, others  were  swearing  most  bitterly,  a  few 
were  praying,  while  those  last  arrived  were  beg- 
ging most  piteously  to  have  their  wounds  dressed 


142 


A   VOICE   FROM   THE   MAIN   DECK. 


next.  The  surgeon  and  his  mate  were  smeared 
with  blood  from  head  to  foot :  they  looked  more 
like  butchers  than  doctors.  Having  so  many 
patients,  they  had  once  shifted  their  quarters  from 
the  cockpit  to  the  steerage ;  they  now  removed 
to  the  ward-room,  and  the  long  table,  round  which 
the  officers  had  sat  over  many  a  merry  feast,  was 
soon  covered  with  the  bleeding  forms  of  maimed 
and  mutilated  seamen. 

While  looking  round  the  ward-room,  I  heard 
a  noise  above,  occasioned  by  the  arrival  of  the 
boats  from  the  conquering  frigate.  Very  soon  a 
lieutenant,  I  think  his  name  was  Nicholson,  came 
into  the  ward-room,  and  said  to  the  busy  surgeon, 
"  How  do  you  do,  doctor  ? " 

"I  have  enough  to  do,"  replied  he,  shaking 
his  head  thoughtfully ;  "  you  have  made  wretched 
work  for  us  !  "  These  officers  were  not  strangers 
to  each  other,  for  the  reader  will  recollect  that  the 
commanders  and  officers  of  these  two  frigates,  had 
exchanged  visits  when  we  were  lying  at  Norfolk, 
some  months  before. 

I  now  set  to  work  to  render  all  the  aid  in  my 
power  to  the  sufferers.  Our  carpenter,  named 
Reed,  had  his  leg  cut  off.  I  helped  to  carry  him 
to  the  after  ward-room ;  but  he  soon  breathed  out 
his  life  there,  and  then  I  assisted  in  throwing  his 
mangled  remains  overboard.  We  got  out  the 
cots  as  fast  as  possible ;  for  most  of  them  were 
siiciuiicu.  uut  xjU.  mc;  gui^.  uuCk.      v/iuj  puur  itJiiuw 

who  lay  with  a  broken  thigh,  begged  me  to  give 


i 


( 


smeared 
ced  more 
so  many 
ters  from 
removed 
id  which 
sast,  was 

maimed 

I  heard 
il  of  the 
{  soon  a 
on,  came 
surgeon, 

shaking 
wretched 
strangers 
:  that  the 
ates,  had 
Norfolk, 

d  in  my 
*,  named 
arry  him 
Lthed  out 
^ving  his 
out  the 
3m  were 

_„  ^. n 

L>r  lyauw 

to  give 


SIX   YEARS    IN   A   MAN   OP   WAR. 


143 


t 


him  water.  I  gave  him  some.  He  looked  unut- 
terable gratitude,  drank,  and  died.  It  was  with 
exceeding  difficulty  I  moved  through  the  steerage, 
it  was  so  covered  with  mangled  men,  and  so 
slippery  with  streams  of  blood.  There  was  a 
poor  boy  there  crying  as  if  his  heart  would  break. 
He  had  been  servant  to  the  bold  boatswain,  whose 
head  was  dashed  to  pieces.  Poor  boy !  he  felt 
that  he  had  lost  a  friend.  I  tried  to  comfort  him 
by  reminding  him  that  he  ought  to  be  thankful 
for  having  escaped  death  himself. 

Here,  also,  I  met  one  of  my  messmates,  who 
showed  the  utmost  joy  at  seeing  me  alive,  for,  he 
said,  he  had  heard  that  I  was  killed.  He  was 
looking  up  his  messmates,  which  he  said  was 
always  done  by  sailors.  We  found  two  of  our 
mess  wounded.  One  was  the  Swede,  Logholm, 
who  fell  overboard,  as  mentioned  in  a  former 
chapter,  and  was  nearly  lost.  We  held  him 
while  the  surgeon  cut  off  his  leg  above  the  knee. 
The  task  was  most  painful  to  behold,  the  surgeon 
using  his  knife  and  saw  on  human  flesh  and 
bones,  as  freely  as  the  butcher  at  the  shambles 
does  on  the  carcass  of  the  beast!  Our  other 
messmate  suffered  still  more  than  the  Swede ;  he 
was  sadly  mutilated  about  the  legs  and  thighs 
with  splinters.  Such  scenes  of  suffering  as  I  saw 
in  that  ward-room,  I  hope  never  to  witness  again. 
Could  the  civilized  world  behold  them  as  they 


-  "-"^J   uiicii  die,  iuiixiiieiY    vvuiBt;    uxaii 


TT  %;i.-U)     UXI.-V3.      CIO 


I 


on  that  occasion,  it  seems  to  me  they  would  for- 


144 


A   VOICE    FTIOM   THE    MAIN    PECK. 


i 


lis  '  i 


I 


t 


ever  put  down  the  barbarous  practices  of  war,  by 
universal  consent. 

Most  of  our  oflicers  and  mm  were  taken  on 
board  the  victor  ship.  I  was  left,  with  a  few 
others,  to  take  care  of  the  wounded.  My  master, 
the  sailinc^-inaster,  was  also  ainonjif  the  officers, 
who  continued  in  their  ship.  Most  of  the  men 
who  remained  wore  unfit  for  any  service,  hovinj^ 
broken  into  the  spirit-room  and  made  themselves 
drunk ;  some  of  them  broke  into  the  purser's 
room  and  helped  themselves  to  clothing;  while 
others,  by  previous  ac^recment,  took  possession  of 
their  dead  messmates'  property.  For  my  own 
part,  I  was  content  to  help  myself  to  a  little  of  the 
officers'  provisions,  which  did  me  more  good  than 
could  be  obtained  from  rum.  What  was  worse 
than  all,  however,  was  the  folly  of  the  sailors  in 
giving  spirit  to  their  wounded  messmate; ,  since 
it  only  served  to  aggravate  their  distress. 

Among  the  wounded,  was  a  brave  fellow  named 
Wells.  After  the  surgeon  had  amputated  and 
dressed  his  arm,  he  walked  about  in  fine  spirits, 
as  if  he  had  received  only  a  slight  injury.  In- 
deed, while  under  the  operation,  he  manifested  a 
similar  heroism — observing  to  the  surgeon,  "I 
have  lost  my  arm  in  the  service  of  my  country ; 
but  I  don't  mind  it,  doctor,  it 's  the  fortune  of 
war."  Cheerful  and  gay  as  he  was,  he  soon 
died.     His  companions  gave  him  rum ;  he  was 

ottoplron    nir  -fotrar  unA    AiaA  PV»nc!    h-Je  moccmnfoQ 

actually  killed  him  with  kindness. 


SIX  yi:aks  in  a  man  of  vvak. 


145 


war,  by 

aken  on 
li  a  few 
r  master, 

officers, 
tlie  men 
!,  having 
smselves 

purser's 
y,  while 
jssion  of 
my  own 
;le  of  the 
ood  than 
IS  worse 
ailors  in 
ef ,  since 

w  named 
ited  and 
e  spirits, 
iry.  In- 
ifested  a 
I 


eon. 


(( 


country ; 

rtune  of 

he  soon 

he  was 

occTTtnt'oci 


Wc  had  all  sorts  of  dispositions  and  tempera- 
ments amon_i>-  our  crew.  To  rne  it  was  a  matter 
of  great  intfivst  to  watch  thoir  various  manifes- 
tations. Some  who  had  lost  tlioir  messmates 
appeared  to  care  notliinuf  about  it,  while  others 
were  grieviii'r  wiih  all  the  tenderness  of  women. 
Of  these,  was  the  survivor  of  two  seamen,  wlio 
liad  formerly  heen  soldiers  in  the  same  regiment; 
he  bemoaned  the  loss  of  his  comrade  with  expres- 
sions of  })rofoundest  grief.  There  were,  also,  two 
boatswain's  mates,  named  Adams  and  Brown,  who 
had  been  messmates  for  severe!  years  in  the  same 
ship.  Brown  was  killed,  or  so  wounded  that  he 
died  soon  after  the  battle.  It  was  really  a  touch- 
ing spectacle  to  see  the  rough,  hardy  features  of 
the  brave  old  sailor  streaming  with  tears,  as  he 
picked  out  the  dead  body  of  his  friend  from  among 
the  wounded,  and  gently  carried  it  to  the  ship's 
side,  saying  to  the  inanimate  form  he  bore,  "  O 
Bill,  we  have  sailed  together  in  a  number  of 
ships,  we  have  been  in  many  gales  and  some  bat- 
tles, but  this  is  the  worst  day  I  have  seen !  We 
must  now  part ! "  Here  he  dropped  the  body  into 
the  deep,  and  then,  a  fresh  torrent  of  tears  stream- 
ing over  his  weather-beaten  face,  he  added,  "  I 
can  do  no  more  for  you.  Farewell !  God  be 
with  you ! "  Here  was  an  instance  of  genuine 
friendship,  worth  more  than  the  heartless  profes- 
sions of  thousands,  who,  in  the  fancied  superiority 
of  their  elevated  Dosition  in  the  social  circle,  will 
13* 


^^m 


.*#* 


146 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN    DECK. 


deign  nothing  but  a  silly  sneer  at  this  record  of  a 
sailor's  grief. 

The  circumstance  was  rather  a  singular  one, 
that  in  both  the  contenilinGf  frigates  the  second 
boatswain's  mate  bore  the  name  of  William  Brown, 
and  that  they  both  were  killed  ;  yet  such  was  the 
fact. 

The  great  number  of  tuc  wounded  kept  our 
surgeon  and  his  mate  busily  employed  at  ih^nr 
liorrid  work  until  late  at  night;  and  it  was  a  ).)ng 
time  before  they  had  much  leisure.  I  remember 
passing  round  the  ship  the  day  after  the  battle. 
Coming  to  a  hammock,  I  found  some  one  in  it 
apparently  asleep.  I  spoke  ;  he  made  no  answer. 
I  looked  into  the  hammock ;  he  was  dead.  My 
messmates  coming  up,  we  threw  the  corpse  over- 
board: that  was  no  time  for  useless  ceremony. 
The  man  had  probably  crawled  to  his  hammock 
the  day  before,  and,  not  being  perceived  in  the 
general  distress,  bled  to  death !  O  War !  who 
can  reveal  thy  miseries  ! 

When  the  crew  of  the  United  States  first 
boarded  our  frigate,  to  take  possession  of  her  as 
their  prize,  our  men,  heated  with  the  fury  of  the 
battle,  exasperated  with  the  sight  of  their  dead 
and  wounded  shipmates,  and  rendered  furious  by 
the  rum  they  had  obtained  from  the  spirit-room, 
felt  and  exhibited  some  disposition  to  fight  their 
captors.  But  after  the  confusion  had  subsided, 
and  part  of  our  men  were  snugly  stowed  away  in 
the  American   ship,  and  the   remainder  found 


SIX   YEARS   IN    A    MAN   OF    WAR. 


147 


;ord  of  a 

jlar  one, 
3  second 
n  Brown, 
L  was  the 

kept  our 
at  tb/ur 
IS  a  ).)ng 
smember 
le  battle. 
)ne  in  it 
answer, 
id.  My 
3se  over- 

iremonv. 
ammock 
i  in  the 
ar!  who 

tes  first 
f  her  as 
y  of  the 
^ir  dead 
rious  by 
rit-room, 
^ht  their 
ubsided, 
away  in 
r  found 


themselves  kindly  used  in  their  own,  the  utmost 
good  feeling  began  to  prevail.  We  took  hold  and 
cleansed  the  ship,  using  hot  vinegar  to  take  out 
the  scent  of  the  blood  that  had  dyed  the  white  of 
our  planks  with  crimson.  We  also  took  hold 
and  aided  in  fitting  our  disabled  frigate  for  her 
voyage.  This  being  accomplished,  both  ships 
sailed  in  company  toward  the  America.i  coast. 

I  soon  felt  myself  perfectly  at  home  with  the 
American  seamen;  so  much  so,  that  I  chose  to 
mess  with  ihcm.  My  shipmates  also  particinated 
in  similar  feelings  in  both  ships.  All  idea  that 
we  had  been  trying  to  shoot  out  each  other's 
brains  so  shortly  before,  seemed  forgotten.  We 
eat  together,  drank  together,  joked,  sung,  laughed, 
told  yarns  ;  in  short,  a  perfect  union  of  ideas, 
feelings,  and  purposes,  seemed  to  exist  among  all 
hands. 

A  corresponding  state  of  unanimity  existed,  I 
was  told,  among  the  officers.  Commodore  Deca- 
tur showed  himself  to  be  a  gentleman  as  well  as 
a  hero  in  his  treatment  of  the  officers  of  the  Mace- 
donian. When  Captain  Carden  oflJered  his  sword 
to  the  commodore,  remarking,  as  he  did  so,  "  I  am 
an  undone  mjin.  I  am  the  first  British  naval 
officer  that  has  struck  his  flag  to  an  American  :" 
the  noble  commodore  either  refused  to  receive  the 
sword,  or  immediately  returned  it,  smiling  as  he 
said,  "  You  are  mistaken,  sir  ;  your  Guerriere  has 
been  taken  by  us,  anrl  the  flaxr  nf  n  frirr«ifc»  wa« 
Struck  before  yours."     This  somewhat  revived  the 


148 


A   VOICE    FROM    THE    MAIN    DECK. 


■J 


ill 


I 


spirits  of  the  old  captain ;  but,  no  doubt,  he  still 
felt  his  soul  stunp;-  with  shame  and  mortification 
at  the  loss  of  his  ship.  Participalintr  as  he  did  in 
the  haughty  spirit  of  the  British  aristocracy,  it  was 
natural  for  him  to  feci  galled  and  wounded  to  the 
quick,  in  the  position  of  a  conquered  man. 

We  were  now  making  the  best  of  our  way  to 
America.  Notwithstanding  the  patched-up  condi- 
tion of  the  Macedonian,  she  was  far  superior,  in  a 
sailing  capacity,  to  her  conqueror.  The  United 
States  had  always  been  a  dull  sailer,  and  had 
been  christened  by  the  name  of  the  Old  Wagon. 
Whenever  a  boat  came  alongside  of  our  frigale, 
and  the  boatswain's  mate  was  ordered  to  "  pipe 
away "  the  boat's  crew,  he  used  to  sound  his 
shrill  call  on  the  whistle,  and  bawl  out,  "  Away, 
Wago7iers,  away,"  instead  of  "  away,  United 
States  men,  away."  This  piece  of  pleasantry 
used  to  be  rebuked  by  the  officers,  but  in  a  man- 
ner that  showed  they  enjoyed  the  joke.  They 
usually  replied,  "  Boatswain's  mate,  you  rascal, 
pipe  away  United  States  men,  not  Wagoners. 
We  have  no  wagoners  on  board  of  a  ship."  Still, 
in  spite  of  rebuke,  the  joke  went  on,  until  it  grew 
stale  by  repetition.  One  thing  was  made  certain 
however  by  the  sailing  qualities  of  the  Macedo- 
nian ;  which  was,  that  if  we  had  been  disposed 
to  escape  from  our  foe  before  the  action,  we  could 
have  done  so  with  all  imaginable  ease.  This, 
however,  would  have  justly  exposed  us  to  d""- 
grace,  while  our  capture  did  not.     There   was 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN    OF   WAR. 


149 


he  still 
ification 
e  did  in 
y,  it  was 
d  to  the 

way  to 
p  condi- 
ior,  in  a 

United 
nd  had 
Wagon. 

frigale, 
0  "  pipe 
md  his 
'  Away, 

United 
;asantry 

a  man- 
They 

rascal, 
Lgoners. 
'  Still, 
it  grew 

certain 

klacedo- 

lisposed 

^e  could 

This, 

to  d-- 
re  was 


I 


every  reason  why  the  United  States  should  beat 
us.  She  was  larger  in  size,  heavier  in  metal, 
more  numerous  in  men,  and  stronger  built  than 
the  Macedonian.  Another  fact  in  her  favor  was, 
that  our  captain  at  first  mistook  her  for  the 
Essex,  which  carried  short  carronades,  hence  he 
engaged  her  at  long  shot  at  first ;  for,  as  we  had 
the  weather  gage,  we  could  take  what  position 
we  pleased.  But  this  manoeuvre  only  wasted  our 
shot,  and  gave  her  the  advantage,  as  she  actually 
carried  larger  metal  than  wc  did.  When  we 
came  to  close  action,  the  shot  from  the  United 
States  went  "through  and  through"  our  ship, 
while  ours  struck  her  sides,  and  fell  harmlessly 
into  the  water.  This  is  to  be  accounted  for  both 
by  the  superiority  of  the  metal  and  of  the  ship. 
Her  guns  were  heavier  and  her  sides  thicker  than 
ours.  Some  have  said  that  her  sides  were  stuffed 
with  cork.  Of  this,  however,  I  am  not  certain. 
Her  superiority,  both  in  number  of  men  and  guns, 
may  easily  be  seen  by  the  following  statistics. 
We  carried  forty-nine  guns ;  long  eighieen-pound- 
ers  on  the  main  deck,  and  thirty-two  pound  car- 
ronades on  the  quarter  deck  and  forecastle.  Our 
whole  number  of  hands,  including  officers,  men 
and  boys,  was  three  hundred.  The  United  States 
carried  four  hundred  and  fifty  men  and  fifty-four 
guns:  long  twenty-four  pounders  on  the  main 
deck,  and  forty-two  pound  carronades  on  the 
quarter  deck  and  forecastle.     So  that  in  actual 

force  she  was  immensely  our  superior. 
13# 


I 


150 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


To  these  should  be  added  the  consideration  that 
the  men  in  the  two  ships  foug-ht  under  the  influ- 
ence of  different  motives.     Many  of  our  hands 
were  in  the  service  against  their  will ;  some  of 
them  were  Americans,  wrongfully  impressed,  and 
inwardly  hoping  for  defeat:  while  nearly  every 
man  in  our  ship  sympathized  with  the  great  prin- 
ciple  for  which  the   American  nation  so   nobly 
contended  in  the  war  of  1812.     What  that  was, 
I  suppose  all  my  readers  understand.     The  Brit- 
ish, at  war  with  France,  had  denied  the  Ameri- 
cans the  right  to  trade  thither.     She  had  impressed 
American  seamen,  and  forcibly  compelled  their 
service  in  her  navy ;  she  had  violated  the  Ameri- 
can flag  by  insolently  searching  their  vessels  for 
her  runaway   seamen.     Free   trade    and   sailors' 
rights,  therefore,  were  the  objects  contended  for 
by  the  Americans.     With  these  objects  our  men 
could  but  sympathize,  whatever  our  officers  might 
do. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  crew  of  our  opponent 
had  all  shipped  voluntarily  for  the  term  of  two 
years  only ;  (most  of  our  men  were  shipped  for 
life.)  They  understood  what  they  fought  for; 
they  were  better  used  in  the  service.  What 
wonder,  then,  that  victory  adorned  the  brows  of 
the  American  commander  ?  To  have  been  defeat- 
ed under  such  circumstances  would  have  been  a 
source  of  lasting  infamy  to  any  naval  officer  in 
the  world.  In  the  matter  of  fighting,  I  think 
there  is  ]DUt  little   diflference   in  either   nation. 


SIX   YEARS   IN    A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


151 


ition  that 
he  influ- 
ir  hands 
some  of 
?sed,  and 
ly  every 
eat  prin- 
50  nobly 
hat  was, 
he  Brit- 

Ameri- 
apressed 
'ed  their 
;  Ameri- 
ssels  for 

sailors' 
ided  for 
our  men 
rs  might 

pponent 

of  two 

pped  for 

^ht  for; 

What 

'OWS  of 
L  defeat- 
been  a 
Rcer  in 
I  think 
nation. 


Place  them  in  action  under  equal  circumstances 
and  motives,  and  who  could  predict  which  would 
be  victor?  Unite  them  together,  they  would 
subject  the  whole  world.  So  close  are  the  alli- 
ances of  blood,  however,  between  England  and 
America,  that  it  is  to  be  earnestly  desired,  they 
may  never  meet  in  mortal  strife  again.  If  either 
will  fight,  which  is  to  be  deprecated  as  a  crime 
and  a  foil}'-,  let  it  choose  an  enemy  less  connected 
by  the  sacred  ties  of  consanguinity. 

Our  voyage  was  one  of  considerable  excitement. 
The  seas  swarmed  with  British  cruisers,  and  it 
was  extremely  doubtful  whether  the  United  States 
would  elude  their  grasp,  and  reach  the  protection 
of  an  American  port  with  her  prize.  I  hoped 
most  sincerely  to  avoid  them,  as  did  most  of  my 
old  shipmates ;  in  this  we  agreed  with  our  cap- 
tors, who  wisely  desired  to  dispose  of  one  con- 
quest before  they  attempted  another.  Our  former 
officers,  of  course,  w^ere  anxious  for  the  sight  of  a 
British  flag.  But  we  saw  none,  and,  after  a  pros- 
perous voyage  from  the  scene  of  conflict,  we 
heard  the  welcome  cry  of  "  Land  ho ! "  The 
United  States  entered  the  port  of  New  London ; 
but,  owing  to  a  sudden  shift  of  the  wind,  the  Mace- 
donian had  to  lay  off  and  on  for  several  hours. 
Had  an  English  cruiser  found  us  in  this  situation, 
we  should  have  been  easily  recovered ;  and,  as  it 
was  extremely  probable  we  should  fall  in  with 
one,  1  felt  quite  uneasy,  until,  after  several  hours, 
we  made  out  to  run  into  the  pretty  harbor  of 


152 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE   MAIN   DECK. 


Newport.  We  fired  a  salute  as  we  came  to  an 
anchor,  which  was  promptly  returned  by  the  peo- 
ple on  shore. 

With  a  few  exceptions,  our  wounded  men  were 
in  a  fair  way  to  recover  by  the  time  we  reached 
Newport.     The  last  of  them,  who  died  of  their 
wounds  on  board,  was  buried  just  before  we  got 
in.     His  name  was  Thomas  Whittaker ;  he  had 
been   badly   wounded   by   splinters.      While    he 
lived,  he  endured  excessive  torture.     At  last  his 
sufferings  rendered  him  crazy,  in  which  sad  state 
he  died.     He  was  sewed  up  in  his  hammock,  by 
his  messmates,  and  carried   on  a  grating  to  the 
larboard  bow  port.     There  Mr.   Archer,  a  mid- 
shipman  of  the  Macedonian,  read  the  beautiful 
burial  service  of  the  church  of  England.    When  he 
came  to  that  most  touching  passage,  "  we  commit 
the  body  of  our  brother   to  the  deep,"  the  grat- 
ing was   elevated,  and,  amid   the  most  profound 
silence,  the  body  fell  heavily  into  the  waters.     As 
it  dropped  into  the   deep,   a  sigh  escaped  from 
many  a  friendly  bosom,  and  an  air  of  passing  mel- 
ancholy shrouded  many  a  face  with  sadn  ss.     Old 
recollections  were  busy  there,  calling  up  the  losses 
of  the  battle ;  but  it  was  only  momentary.     The 
men  brushed  away  their  tears,  muttered  "  It 's  no 
use  to  fret,"  and  things   once  more  wore  their 
wonted  aspect. 

At  Newport  our  wounded  were  carried  on  shore. 
Our  former  officers  also  left  us  here.  When  my 
master,  Mr.  Walker,  took  his  leave  of  me,  he  ap- 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN    OF  WAR. 


153 


me  to  an 
'  the  peo- 

Qcn  were 
reached 
of  their 
e  we  £:ot 
;  he  had 
l^hile   he 
;  last  his 
sad  state 
nock,  by 
^  to  the 
,  a  mid- 
beautiful 
IVhen  he 
!  commit 
he  grat- 
profound 
crs.     As 
ed  from 
ing  mel- 
ss.    Old 
le  losses 
\f.     The 
'It's  no 
re  their 

n  shore, 
hen  my 
,  he  ap- 


peared deeply  affected.  Imprinting  a  kiss  on  my 
cheek,  the  tears  started  from  his  eyes,  and  he  bade 
me  adieu.     I  have  not  seen  him  since. 

While  we  lay  here,  a  few  days,  several  of  our 
men  contrived  to  run  away.  I  should  have  done 
so  too,  but  for  the  vigilance  of  the  prize  officers, 
who  were  ordered  to  keep  us,  that  we  might  be 
exchanged  for  those  Americans  who  had  fallen 
into  British  hands. 

After  staying  a  short  time  in  this  port,  we  got 
under  weigh  and  ran  into  New  London.  Here  we 
fired  a  gun  as  a  signal ;  it  was  answered  by  the 
United  States,  and  both  ships  were  presently 
sailing  in  company  to  New  York.  We  found  the 
sound  plentifully  dotted  with  sloops,  carrying  pas- 
sengers, for  this  was  before  the  days  of  modern 
steamboating.  After  we  reached  Hurl-gate,  ves- 
sels here  gave  us  plenty  of  employment.  Most 
of  them  honored  us  with  three  cheers,  as  they 
passed.  Of  course,  the  prize  crew  could  do  no 
less  than  cheer  again,  so  that  we  passed  our  time 
amidst  continued  cheering.  While  here,  we  were 
favored  with  abundant  visitors,  curious  to  see  the 
captive  frigate.  Finding  these  visitors  extremely 
inquisitive,  and  being  tolerably  good-natured  my- 
self, I  found  a  profitable  business  in  conducting 
them  about  the  ship,  describing  the  action,  and 
pointing  out  the  places  where  particular  individu- 
als fell.  For  these  services,  I  gained  some  money 
and  more  crood  will.     Tl 


peoph 


had  been 


to  see  us,  used  to  tell  on  shore  how  they  had  been 


i       > 


111  hi 


1 1 1' 


154 


A    VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


on  board  of  us,  and  how  the  English  boy  had 
conducted  them  over  the  ship,  and  told  them  the 
particulars  of  the  fight.  It  soon  became  quite 
common  for  those  who  came  to  inquire  "  if  I  was 
the  English  boy  that  was  taken  in  her."  This 
civility  on  my  part  was  not  without  a  motive ;  it 
was  productive  of  profit,  and  I  wanted  money  to 
aid  me  whenever  I  got  clear,  which  I  was  fully 
determined  to  do,  the  first  opportunity. 

To  this  step  I  was  encouraged  by  our  pilot,  who 
brought  us  from  New  London,  Mr.  Tinker.  He 
promised  to  take  me  as  his  apprentice,  if  I  ran 
away.  Also  a  gentleman  who  visited  us  told  me 
to  call  at  his  house  in  Pearl  street,  and  he  would 
give  me  a  dinner.  Many  others  advised  me  to 
get  away  if  por  sible.  But  I  was  so  closely  watched 
that  my  mind  was  haunted  with  fear,  lest,  after  all, 
I  should  be  sent  back  to  England  in  the  Cartel, 
which  was  expected  every  day  for  the  release  of 
the  prisoners.  To  fail  in  the  attempt,  exposed  me 
to  the  danger  of  being  reported  to  the  officer  who 
might  come  for  us,  and  thus  I  was  liable  to  be 
flogged  whenever  I  arrived  in  a  British  port. 
Great  caution  was  therefore  necessary  in  making 
the  effort;  since  it  was  better  not  to  try  at  all, 
than  to  fail  of  success. 

Christmas  was  now  drawing  near.  The  day 
before  Christmas  day,  the  Americans  contrived  to 
get  well  supplied  with  wine  from  a  barrel  they 

found  below.     As  thp\T  Vmr]  nn  fu^']"  T  ]--"-i>* 

messmates  some  apples  and  a  turkey,  so  that  on 


J 


SIX    YEARS    IN    A    MAN    OF    WAR. 


155 


L  boy  had 
I  them  the 
ime   quite 
"  if  I  was 
r."     This 
Tiotive ;  it 
money  to 
was  fully- 
pilot,  who 
iker.     He 
,  if  I  ran 
IS  told  me 
he  would 
ed  me  to 
J  watched 
,  after  all, 
le  Cartel, 
elease  of 
posed  me 
hcer  who 
ble  to  be 
ish   port. 
1  making 
'y  at  all, 

The  day 
itrived  to 
rrel  they 

r-UgllL   liJ  Y 

D  that  on 


the  morrow  they  were  quite  taken  up  with  feast- 
ing. We  also  had  a  great  many  visitors  that  day ; 
many  of  them  were  ladies,  and  the  officers  got  a 
chair  out,  which  Captain  Carden  had  rigged  up, 
to  lift  ladies  on  board.  It  was  made  from  an  old 
hogshead,  in  the  following  manner.  One  head 
was  knocked  out  and  the  barrel  scooped  out  in 
front ;  a  seat  was  then  inserted,  with  a  flag  thrown 
over  the  whole ;  so  that  when  it  was  lowered  into 
a  boat  alongside,  the  lady  had  but  to  step  in  and 
throw  the  flag  round  her  feet ;  in  a  trice,  the  chair 
was  whipt  upon  deck  by  the  halyards,  when  the 
lady  could  step  out  with  perfect  ease.  This  con- 
trivance aflbrded  a  great  deal  of  amusement,  and 
kept  the  officers  busily  occupied  in  waiting  upon 
their  lady  visitors.  Now  then,  thought  I,  is  my 
time  for  escape,  or  not  at  all.  I  had  already  made 
a  friend  of  the  American  boatswain,  Mr.  Dawson, 
who  promised  to  carry  my  clothes  to  New  York, 
if  I  got  clear.  So,  looking  over  the  ship's  side,  I 
saw  a  small  colored  boy  in  a  boat.  "  Can  you  tell 
me,"  said  I,  hailing  him,  "  where  I  can  get  some 
geese  and  turkeys  on  shore  for  our  officers?" 

"  I  guess  you  can  at  some  of  the  houses,"  res- 
ponded the  lad. 

"Well,  then,"  I  continued,  "wilfyou  set  me 
ashore  ?     I  want  to  get  some  for  our  officers." 

To  this  he  replied,  "  Yes,  if  you  will  go  and  ask 
my  master,  who  is  on  board  your,  ship." 

This  was  a  damper  on  my  young  hopes,  since 
it  was  not  likely  that  his  master  would  give  per- 


156 


A    VOICE    FROM    THE    MAIN    DECK. 


mission.  I  went  below,  somewhat  disconcerted. 
There  I  met  a  boy  named  James  Day,  two  years 
younger  than  myself.  I  told  him  I  was  going  to 
run  away,  and  urged  him  to  go  with  me.  He 
declined  at  first,  saying,  "  I  have  no  money  to  pay 
my  expenses." 

"  But  I  have  money,"  returned  I,  "  and  as  long 
as  I  have  a  shilling,  you  shall  have  half  of  it." 

"  Besides,"  continued  he,  "  I  am  afraid  we  can- 
not get  away  without  being  caught,  and  so  get  a 
thorough  flogging." 

/'  Never  mind  that,"  said  I;  "I  have  contrived 
that  business.  The  boat 's  waiting  to  set  us  ashore. 
Come  along-i  Jim  ;  do  n't  be  frightened ;  '  Nothing 
venture,  nothing  have,'  you  know.  Come,  come° 
here  's  the  boat  alongside."  At  length  he  con- 
sented ;  we  returned  to  the  ship's  side,  and  told 
the  boy  his  master  was  willing,  provided  he  would 
make  haste.  We  jumped  into  the  boat,  and  were 
soon  hurrying  towards  the  shore,  full  of  the  hope 
of  freedom. 

Never  did  my  heart  misgive  me  as  it  did  when 
we  v/ere  on  our  way  to  the  shore ;  the  voice  of 
the  boy's  master  came  echoing  along  the.-  waves. 
"Where  are  you  going  with  that  boat?"  he 
shouted.  Recovering  myself,  I  persuaded  the  boy 
he  was  only  bidding  him  to  make  haste.  So  the 
lad  rciplied,  "  I  am  going  to  get  some  geese,  sir ! " 
and  pulled  on.  A  few  minutes  more,  and,  to  my 
unspeakable  delight,  I  stood  on  American  soil. 
Giving  the  boy  a  half  dollar,  we  pushed  on  for 
New  York,  some  ten  miles  distant. 


concerted, 
two  years 
s  going  to 
me.  He 
ley  to  pay 


id  as  long 
of  it." 
d  we  can- 
so  get  a 


contrived 
IS  ashore. 
'  Nothing 
ne,  come, 
L  he  con- 
and  told 
he  would 
and  w^ere 
the  hope 

lid  when 
voice  of 
e  waves, 
at?"  he 
1  the  boy 
So  the 
se,  sir ! " 
d,  to  my 
:an  soil, 
i  on  for 


14 


158 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


m 


For  this  act  of  running  away,  I  have  never 
blamed  myself;  for  the  means  by  which  it  was 
effected,  I  have  frequently  done  so.  As  the  reader 
has  seen,  it  was  done  at  the  expense  of  truth. 
I  told  several  deliberate  lies  to  the  deceived  boy 
in  the  boat.  This  is  inexcusable,  and  the  only 
palliation  that  can  be  offfered  is,  my  want  of  reli- 
gious instruction.  I  was  not  then  a  Christian. 
Still,  ihe  act  of  lying  was  an  offence  before  God, 
and  no  man  should  purchase  his  liberty  at  the 
price  of  a  lie.  He  who  saves  his  life  at  the  cost  of 
offending  God,  pays  dearly  for  the  purchase.  I 
am  thankful  I  have  since  learned  this  lesson,  at 
the  foot  of  the  cross  of  Jesus  Christ. 

Not  having  our  land  legs  on,  we  soon  became 
excessively  fatigued.  When  within  two  or  three 
miles  of  the  city,  we  concluded  to  stop  all  night 
at  a  tavern  on  the  road. 

The  inmates  looked  somewhat  surprised  to  see 
two  sailor  lads  inquiring  for  lodgings  ;  so  I  at  once 
told  them  we  were  runaways  from  the  captured 
frigate.  This  made  them  our  friends ;  the  even- 
ing passed  quite  pleasantly  ;  we  relating  the  par- 
ticulars of  the  battle,  and  singing  sea  songs,  and 
they  listening  with  the  utmost  good  humor! 

It  seemed  strange  to  us  to  find  ourselves  in  a 
bed,  after  sleeping  two  years  and  a  half  in  a  ham- 
mock ;  nevertheless,  we  slept  soundly,  and  to  our 
inexpressible  pleasure  arose  in  the  morning  at  our 
leisure,  without  being  driven  by  the  swearing 
boatswain  at  our  heels.     After  breakfast,  our  gen- 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


159 


ve  never 
:h  it  was 
be  reader 
of  truth, 
ived  boy 
the  only 
t  of  reli- 
'hristian. 
3re  God, 
y  at  the 
e  cost  of 
hase.  I 
esson,  at 

became 
or  three 
ill  night 

;d  to  see 
[  at  once 
captured 
le  even- 
the  par- 
igs,  and 
r. 

^es  in  a 
a  ham- 
l  to  our 
2f  at  our 
^ve.aring 
ur  gen- 


erous host  having  refused  to  receive  any  payment 
for  his  hospitality,  we  set  out  for  the  city  of  New 
York. 

Here  I  very  fortunately  alighted  on  one  of  the 
crew  of  the  Macedonian,  named  Fitzgibbons,  who 
informed  me  that  most  of  our  men  had  been 
landed  at  New  London,  and  confined  as  prison- 
ers in  an  old  barn  ;  but  that,  not  being  over  closely 
guarded,  most  of  them  had  run  away.  He  also 
introduced  me  to  a  sailors'  boarding-house,  kept 
by  a  widow  named  Elms,  near  the  old  Fly  Mar- 
ket in  Front  street. 

After  spending  a  week  in  roving  about  the  city, 
I  heard  a  tremendous  roaring  of  cannon  in  the 
harbo  - ;  it  proceeded  from  the  two  frigates — which 
had  dropped  down  from  Hurl-gate  and  hauled  up 
off  the  navy  yard.  What  was  more  to  my  satis- 
faction, however,  was  the  news  that  the  cartel  had 
arrived  and  carried  off  the  British  crew,  or,  rather, 
the  fragment  that  remained  of  them.  Had  I 
delayed  my  escape  three  days  longer,  instead  of 
spending  the  rest  of  my  days  in  America  and  in 
the  American  service,  I  should  have  been  chained 
to  the  obnoxious  discipline  of  the  British  navy. 
The  reader  may  be  assured  that  the  narrowness 
of  my  escape  very  greatlj  enhanced  the  value  I 
set  upon  my  freedom. 

I  now  ventured  on  board  the  Macedonian  again 
to  obtain  my  clothes.  As  I  stepped  on  board,  my 
mind  miso-nvp  mp.  ns  Tiipntf^nqYit  lVjr'l^/^Ur«>^  «„«j 

me  somewhat  sternly ;  but  I  was  reassured,  when, 


160 


i* 


A    VOICE    FROM   TIIK    MAIN    DECK. 


I 


kindly  spoakinof,  lio  inrorincd  inc  tliat  tlic  cartel 
was  !;oi)c,  and  I  was  safe.  'J'lic  sailors,  also,  con- 
gratiilaled  mo  on  iny  success  in  irctlinir  dear. 

The  odicers  and  crew  were  about  to  have  a 
public  dinner,  and  to  visit  the  theatre  in  commem- 
oration of  their  achievement.  Tiie  sailors  invited 
me  to  join  them.  To  this  I  np^reed.  But  ever- 
hauling  my  clothes,  and  contriving  liow  I  should 
appear  as  well  as  my  shipmates,  who  were  all 
going  to  have  new  suits  for  the  occasion,  the 
bright  anchor  buttons,  which  shone  on  my  best 
suit,  presented  an  ins-iperablo  ol)jection.  For 
how  could  I  appear  among  them  with  the  badge 
of  the  British  service  on  my  coat?  This  dilemma 
was  removed,  however,  by  the  skill  of  my  land- 
lady, the  widow,  who  very  carefully  covered  the 
buttons  with  blue  cloth. 

There  was  great  excitement  in  New  York, 
when  the  brave  tars  of  the  victorious  United 
States,  walked  in  triumphant  procession  through 
the  streets,  in  the  presence  of  countless  citizens. 
First,  came  Captain  Garden's  band,  Avhich  had 
now  shipped  with  Decatur;  they  were  followed 
by  the  commodore  and  his  officers,  and  these  by 
the  crew.  At  the  City  Hotel,  all  hands  partook 
of  a  sumptuous  dinner.  This  was  followed  by 
rather  more  than  a  usual  amount  of  drinking, 
laughing,  and  talking;  for  as  liquor  was  fur- 
nished in  great  abundance,  the  men  could  not 
resist  the  lemntntion  to  p-et  drunk-  As  thpv  left 
the  room  to  go  to  the  theatre,  the  poor  plates  on 


I 


SIX    YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


161 


Q  cartel 
so,  con- 
s'lr. 

Imve  a 
nimem- 
invited 
lit  over- 
should 
.'ere  all 
on,  the 
ny  best 
.  For 
J  badge 
ilemma 
y  land- 
red  the 

York, 
United 
hrough 
itizens. 
ch  had 
Dllowed 
lese  by 
partook 
,ved  by 
inking, 
as  fur- 
ild  not 
lev  left 
ites  on 


I 


the  sideboard  proclaimed  that  "  Jack  was  full 
three  sheets  in  the  wind."  Ahnost  every  one, 
as  he  passed,  gave  tlnnn  a  crack,  crying  out  as 
they  fell,  "  Save  the  pieces;"  thus  illustrating  the 
old  proverb,  "  Wiien  rum  is  in,  wit  is  out." 

The  visit  to  the  theatre  passed  ofl'  very  much 
like  the  dinner,  to  wit,  there  was  an  abundance 
of  shouting  and  clieering  all  the  evening.  After 
the  close  of  the  play,  all  hands  scattered  to  see 
their  friends,  with  orders  to  be  on  board  next  day. 
It  was  a  vveek  before  they  all  returned. 

I  was  much  struck  with  the  appearance  of 
Decatur  that  evening,  as  he  sat  in  full  uniform, 
his  pleasant  face  flushed  with  the  excitement  of 
the  occasion.  He  formed  a  striking  contrast  to 
the  appearance  he  made  when  he  visited  our  ship 
on  the  passage  to  New  York.  Then,  he  wore  an 
old  straw  hat  and  a  plain  suit  of  clothes,  which 
made  him  look  more  like  a  farmer  than  a  naval 
commander. 

Never  had  men  more  friends  than  the  crew  of 
the  United  States  at  this  period.  Every  board- 
ing-house was  open  to  them ;  every  merchant 
would  trust  them ;  every  one  was  willing  to  lend 
them  money.  What  was  it  that  gained  them 
such  public  favor  ?  "  0,  their  victory,  of  course," 
replies  the  reader.  Stop ;  I  will  reveal  the  secret. 
They  had  some  prize  money  coming  to  them  in  a 
few  weeks  !  That  was  the  key  that  unlocked  cof- 
fers :  the  warmth  that  melted  the  heart ;  the  snirit 

that  clothed  the  face  with  smiles.     But  for  that — 

14# 


I 


r 

- 

\ 

1 

• 

I    'i'i 


!      ., 


162 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    I\iAIN    DECK. 


THE  PRIZE  MONEY — poor  Jaclc's  crcclit  and  favor 
would,  fs  usual,  have  been  hclow  pa?\ 

Of  course,  this  profusion,  this  universal  popu- 
larity, almost  turned  the  brains  of  some  of  those 
old  tars ;  and  at  every  opportunity  they  would 
steal  ashore  for  a  spree.  This  brought  them  into 
trouble ;  it  brought  some  of  them  to  the  gangway 
to  be  Hogged.  These  floggings,  however,  were 
not  very  severe ;  they  were  rather  a  species  of 
farce,  enacted  to  preserve  alive  the  forms  of  disci- 
pline. To  avoid  even  these  forms,  the  men  were 
accustomed,  after  staying  on  a  spree  for  several 
days,  to  visit  the  commodore's  lady,  with  some 
piteous  tale,  begging  her  to  intercede  for  them 
with  their  captain.  This  she  did  with  almost 
constant  success.  The  lucky  tar  would  then  go 
on  board,  telling  his  messmates  that  she  was  the 
sailor's  friend,  and  using  the  usual  saying  in  such 
cases,  "  Good  luck  to  her — she  has  a  soul  to  be 
saved." 

By  this  time,  the  late  crew  of  the  Macedonian, 
or  those  of  them  who  had  not  c"one  home  with  the 
cartel,  were  pretty  well  scattered  over  the  coun- 
try. One  of  the  marines,  named  Luke  Oil,  went 
to  Springfield,  Mass,,  where  he  was  employed  as 
a  file-cutter  by  Colonel  Lee,  of  the  U.  S.  armory, 
at  the  rate  of  $75  per  month.  This  prosperity, 
and  an  unfortunate  marriage,  led  him  into  un- 
steady habits.  He  enlisted  into  the  U.  S.  army ; 
but  growing  sick  of  that,  Colonel  Lee  procured 
his  discharge.      He   afterwards    enlisted   again, 


SIX   YEARS    IN   A   MAN   OP   WAR. 


163 


nd  favor 

al  popu- 
of  those 
y  would 
liem  into 
gangway 
er,  were 
ecies  of 
of  disci- 
leii  were 
:  several 
th  some 
br  them 
1  almost 
then  go 
was  the 
•  in  such 
ul  to  be 

edonian, 
with  the 
le  coun- 
)il,  went 
loyed  as 
armory, 
asperity, 
into  un- 
I.  army ; 
procured 
1  again, 


I 


which  is  the  last  I  ever  heard  of  Luke  Oil.  Two 
more  of  our  marines,  named  Shipley  and  Taylor, 
also  went  to  Springfield,  and  were  employed  by  a 
Mr.  Ames. 

Several  of  the  others  enlisted  to  serve  in  the 
fort  at  New  London.  One  of  these,  whose  name 
was  Hawkins,  was  very  highly  esteemed  for  his 
excellences  as  a  soldier,  and  was  soon  made  ser- 
jreant.  But  being  an  inveterate  drunkard,  he  lost 
his  office,  and  was  degraded  to  the  ranks. 

I  have  a  characteristic  anecdote  to  record  of 
Sadler,  the  messmate  of  Bob  Hammond.  He  en- 
listed in  the  American  army,  and  was  quartered  at 
Hartford.  He  was  so  delighted  with  everything 
American,  that  he  had  grown  to  be  an  enthusiast 
in  his  encomiums  on  the  government,  as  was  ex- 
hibited one  day  in  a  somewhat  peculiar  way. 
The  company  to  which  he  belonged  was  marched 
to  church,  one  Sabbath,  to  hear  (I  think  it  was) 
priest  Strong.  The  text  was,  "  Fear  God  and 
honor  the  king."  This  was  too  much  for  the 
newly-made  American ;  and  he  put  the  congre- 
gation into  a  broad  grin,  by  exclaiming  aloud, 
*'  Do  n't  k .  us  hear  about  the  king,  but  about 
congress."  The  good  people  of  Hartford  would 
have  pardoned  tlys  violation  of  Puritan  propriety, 
if  they  had  seen  that  brave  fellow  flogged,  as  I 
had,  in  the  king's  service. 

Our  fifer,  Charles  Robinson,  also  enlisted  in  the 
same  regiment.  Perhaps  some  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Hartford  still  remember  the  soldier  who  amused 


I  r  Li 


I 


104 


A    VOICE    rilOM    Tllli    MAIN    DKCK. 


:   m 


thorn,  (lurlnir  Iiis  stny,  ))>'  pluy'unr  on  the  hiirrlo  in 
tho  moniiiii.-,  Iicin  ll,..  i,,,,  ,,r  \Ur  coun-lmii.sf. 
KoI)iMS()ii  was  pcrCri  m.-isi.-r  (,1  s.-vcnil  iustru- 
UUMils,  c.sp.-cijilly  llic  (iCc  and  tli<.  I)ii<>lr. 

One  of  our  l.oys,  w.uuni  Willini.rjVIiuldcM,  but 
iM'tlor  Known  hy  tin;  IVIiiccdoiiijins  hy  ili(.  nick- 
»»»»"<'  or-nilly  O'KooK,"  Cro.u  l.is 'pmnico  of 
sinoino-  u  .suiju-  nhoiil,  ihal  Ikmo,  ."iilislcd  in  the 
nnny,  and  nCuM-WMrds  pcHonncd  a  sional  .service 
ibr  liis  adoplod  conntry,  at  Jacket's  Harl.or.  'IMio 
AnuM-icans  wi>ro  in  InJl  rchval   hcCoro  lli(.    Urilisli 

li'm>ps,  whoso  oviuM-al, mounted  (Mnisu|)orf)cliar<rer, 
was  at  ih(>ir  head,  shoulino-,  -  llii/za,niy  hoys.'iho 
day  is  ours!"  whon  youno'  Ma.Klcn,  ren'donMl  des- 
perate by  the  cerlai.ity  of  l,ein,n-  shot,  if  taken   by 
his  countrymen,  chdiberately  aimed  his  rille  at  the 
freneral.     The  shot  struck    liim,  lie  lidl,  and  tho 
]Jritish  retreated.      This  brave   lad   k)st  his  hie  in 
a  subseipuMJt  action.      1   make  this  statement  on 
the  uiUhority  of  (Captain  Badirer,  of  Williamstown, 
Mass.,  conlirmed  by  the  testimony  of  several  otlier 
persons. 

TJie  reader  has  jirobably  not  foro-otten  the  name 
of  Bh)ody  Dick.  He  shipped  on  board  the  Hor- 
net, sh)op  of  war,  and  with  that  vessel  very 
narrowly  escaped  fallino-  into  the  liands  of  the 
English.  I  met  him  afterwards  in  New  York. 
He  told  me  how  lio  tn^nbled  durinsr  the  chase, 
knowinir  that  if  captured  he  should  be  hung  for 
entering  the  American  service  ;  the  British  hav- 
ing given  express  orders  for  a  strict  look-out  after 


SIX    YKAllS    IN    A    MAN    OF    WAU. 


165 


n  ]m(r\c  in 
uri-lioiisc. 
ul   iiistni- 

iddcii,  but 
\hv.  nick- 
ruclice   of 
L'd  in  the 
!il  scrvico 
.or.     Tli(3 
10   IJrilisli 
l»clmroor, 
lioys,  tlio 
Icnul  dos- 
takcii   l)y 
He  at  th(3 
,  and  the 
lis  lifo  ill 
nnent  on 
unstown, 
'I'al  other 

Lho  name 
the  Hor- 
se 1  very 
s  of  the 
^v  York, 
e  chase, 
iiing  for 
ish  hav- 
out  after 


our   crew,   tliut    tlicy    rrii<.';ht    lunUc   exarriph\s  of 
ihrm. 

licsidcs  the  irif'n  just  rru'ritionf'd,  olherH  of  our 
crew  shipped  arid  waii(h'red  in  every  direction; 
some  in  men  of  wnr,  sonu;  in  merchant  V(*ss(ds ; 
some,  fearful  of  the  risk  of  heiri/^  r(.'tak(?n,  setth-d 
ashore.  In  short,  i;.  is  ijiipossiUe  to  trace  them,  so 
vari(Misly  did  tliey  divcu'^^e  from  each  other.  I 
hav(;  been  pjirticnlar  in  menlioninfr  the  Ijistory  of 
a  f(!W,  to  i»:ratify  th(^  parti(!s,  should  th(>y  he  living, 
and  ever  see  my  hook  ;  to  confirm  tin;  read(!r  in  the 
truthfulness  of  my  account,  and  to  show  some  of 
the  chanires  tliat  followed  in  consequence  of  the 
victory  of  the  United  States  over  the  Macedonian. 
It  would  h »  an  intc^reslinir  task,  were  it  possible, 
to  trace  out  all  the  results  of  that  victory.  Ilav- 
iiy,^  detained  the  reader  tfms  loiiir  \n  followin^r  the 
fate  of  my  shipmates,  I  will  resume  the  record  of 
my  own  in  the  following*-  chapter. 


ir 


J  «f 


yvi- 


!" 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

The  author  meets  with  his  old  shipmates— A  proposition— 
An  a^v-lvward  (lilemma—Refiisal  to  ship— Low  state  of 
his  funds-A  generous  oflTer-The  author  becomes  a 
boot-maker's  apprentice— A  pleasant  report— A  visit 
to  the  United  States  frigate— A  pleasant  discovery- 
Change  of  purpose— Quits  the  shoemaker— Is  robbed 
.  by  a  negro— Goes  to  Salem— Dreams—Serious  emotions 
—Revival  among  the  Baptists— A  fishing  excursion- 
Dangerous  proximity  to  a  British  brig— The  Chesa- 
peake and  Shannon— The  author  ships  in  the  gun  brig 
Syren— Her  armament,  &c.  described. 

Nearly  two  weeks  had  passed  since  I  left  the 
Macedonian.  I  and  my  companion  were  living 
upon  the  sums  I  had  saved  from  the  presents  I 
received  for  my  civilities  to  her  numerous  visitors. 
One  day,  as  I  was  sauntering  round  the  wharves, 
with  my  protege,  I  met  a  number  of  men-of- 
war's-men.  Stepping  up  to  them,  I  perceived 
some  of  the  old  Macedonians.  Of  course,  I  hailed 
them.  They  were  glad  to  see  me.  They  had 
shipped  on  board  the  John  Adams,  guard  ship,  to 
which  they  were  returning,  having  been  enjoying 
a  few  days'  liberty.  Nothing  would  satisfy  them, 
but  for  us  to  accompany  them,  and  ship  too.  The 
midshipm.an  who  was  with  them,  joined  his  en- 
treaties to  theirs,  and  we  at  last  consented. 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


167 


•oposition — 
o\v  state  of 
becomes  a 
rt — A  visit 
liscovery — 
—Is  robbed 
IS  emotions 
'xcursion — 
^he  Chesa- 
le  gun  brig 


I  left  the 
Te  living 
jresents  I 
s  visitors, 
wharves, 
men-of- 
perceived 
,  I  hailed 
'hey  had 
1  ship,  to 
enjoying 
sfy  them, 
)o.  The 
I  his  en- 


i. 


To  avoid  being  detected  Ly  the  British,  it  was 
usual  for  our  men  to  assume  new  names,  and  to 
hail  from  some  American  port,  on  shipping  in  an 
American  vessel.  My  shipmates  advised  me  to 
do  the  same.  To  this  I  had  some  objections, 
because  I  knew  that  changing  my  name  would 
not  make  me  a  Yankee,  while  it  mifjht  brino:  me 
into  as  awkward  a  position  as  it  did  an  Irishman, 
who  was  found  by  an  English  cruiser  on  board  an 
American  vessel.  After  he  had  declared  himself 
an  American,  the  officer  asked  him,  "  What  part 
of  America  did  you  come  from  ?" 

"  I  used  to  belong  to  Philamadelph,  but  now  I 
belong  to  Philama  York,"  replied  paddy,  conceal- 
ing his  brogue  as  much  as  possible.  "  Well," 
continued  the  officer,  "  can  you  say  pease  ?  " 

"  Pase,  sir,"  said  Pat  in  true  Irish  style.  The 
officer  laughed  and  replied,  "  Mr.  Pase,  you  wiU 
please  to  get  into  the  boat."  The  poor  Irishman 
was  unsuccessful  in  playing  the  Yankee. 

Mentioning  these  fears,  the  midshipman  said, 
"  Call  yourself  William  Harper,  and  hail  from 
Philadelphia;"  then  turning  to  my  companion,  he 
added,  "  and  call  yourself  James  Wilson." 

"  But,"  said  I,  "  suppose  the  officer  should  ask 
any  questions  about  Philadelphia,  what  should  I 
do^' 

"  0,  say  you  belong  to  Pine  street." 

*'  But  what  if  he  asks  me  in  what  part  of  the 
city  Pine  street  is  situated,  and  what  streets  join 
it  ?  "  I  answered,  determined  not  to  take  a  step  in 
the  dark  if  I  could  avoid  it. 


168 


A    VOICK    riiOM   THE    MAIN    DJiCK. 


i^umi      i'i: 


I 


The  midshipman  assured  me  that  no  such 
questions  would  be  put;  and,  partly  confiding  and 
partly  doubting-,  I  resolved  to  make  the  experi- 
ment. Goinn-  on  board,  we  were  paraded  before 
the  officers.  Addressing  me,  one  of  them  said, 
"  Well,  my  boy,  what  is  your  name  ?" 

Mustering  all  the  confidence  I  could  command, 
I  boldly  answered,  "  William  Harper,  sir." 

"  What  part  of  America  do  you  belono-  to,  my 
boy  ? " 

"  Philadelphia,  sir." 

Here  one  of  the  officers  smiled  and  remarked, 
"Ah,  a  townsman."  I  trembled  at  hearing  this, 
inwardly  hoping  that  they  would  ask  me  no  more 
questions.  To  my  increased  alarm,  however,  he 
continued  by  asking,  "  What  street  in  Philadel- 
phia?" 

"  Pine  street,  sir,"  said  I,  with  the  air  of  a  man 
who  feels  himself  drawn  toward  a  crisis  he  can- 
not escape. 

"  What  street  joins  Pine  street,  my  lad  ?"  asked 
my  tormentor,  with  a  knowing  laugh. 

This  w^as  a  poser;  for  further  than  this  my 
instructions  had  not  proceeded.  However,  I  ral- 
lied the  little  confidence  which  remained,  and 
said,  "  I  don't  remember,  sir." 

The  officer  wdio  had  claimed  me  as  a  towns- 
man, mentioned  the  next  street,  and  my  examiner 
went  on  by  asking  me  what  street  joined  the  one 

montinnorl    \\fr  fV)r«   f\ff^r,^-^ 

My  colors,  which  had  fallen  to  half-mast  before, 


1  t-»t"l- 


t  no  such 
ifiding  and 
he  expen- 
ded before 
ihem  said, 

command, 

ir." 

mg  to,  my 


remarked, 
aring  this, 
e  no  more 
)wever.  he 
Philadel- 

r  of  a  man 

IS  he  can- 

i  ? "  asked 

.  this  my 
ver,  I  ral- 
ined,   and 

a  towns- 
examiner 
id  the  one 

ast  before. 


SIX    YEARS    IN    A   MAN    OF    WAR. 


169 


were  now  fairly  struck.  I  had  to  surrender  at 
discretion ;  but  thinking  to  get  oft'  with  the  hon- 
ors of  war,  I  answered,  "  Gentlemen,  it  is  so  long 
since  I  was  in  Philadelphia,  I  have  forgotten  all 
about  it." 

This  point  blank  shot  might  have  saved  me, 
v/hen,  as  if  Providence  had  determined  to  make 
my  attempt  at  lying  a  total  ''ailum,  one  of  them 
detected  a  glittering  anchor  button,  which  had 
contrived  to  get  rid  of  the  covering  placed  over  it 
by  the  fingers  of  the  widow.  Pointing  it  out  to 
the  others,  he  said,  "  Where  did  you  get  that 
English  button  ?  Did  you  pick  it  up  in  Phila- 
delphia?" 

This  was  a  shot  which  raked  me  fore  and  aft. 
I  hauled  doAvn  my  colors  and  stood  silent.  The 
officers  laughed  heartily  as  one  of  them  said, 
"  Go  below,  my  lad ;  you  will  make  a  pretty  good 
Yankee." 

Through  all  this  procedure  the  reader  will  per- 
ceive how  perfect  was  the  disregard  of  truth 
among  all  parties,  from  my  humble  self  to  the 
officers,  who  were  evidently  rather  pleased  than 
otherwise  at  my  attempt  to  pass  for  an  American. 
Such  an  absence  of  moral  rectitude  is  deplorable ; 
it  exhibits  the  unfitness  of  the  parties  for  a  man- 
sion in  His  kingdom  who  is  a  God  of  truth :  it 
lays  the  foundation  for  a  mutual  distrust  and  sus- 
picion among  men,  and  it  leaves  the  offender  to 
meet  a  fearful  weight  of  responsibility  in  the  day 
that  3hall  try  every  man's  work.  I  am  thankful 
15 


170 


A    VOICE    FROM    THE    MAIN    DECK. 


I  I 


^;ii^' 


that  the  influences  of  Christianity  have  fallen 
upon  me  since  that  time,  in  such  abundance  as  to 
renew  the  spirit  of  my  mind,  and  to  fill  me  with 
abhorrence  towards  a  violation  of  truth. 

The  next  morning  I  and  my  companion,  who 
had  escaped  the  ordeal  that  had  proved  too  much 
for  me,  were  summoned  to  go  ashore  to  the  ren- 
dezvous, that  we  might  sign  the  sliip's  articles ; 
or,  in  sailor  phrase,  get  shipped.  The  officer  of 
the  watch  shouted,  "  Boatswain's  mate  !" 

"  Sir,"  answered  a  deep,  gruff  voice. 

"  Pipe  away  the  cutter,"  said  the  officer. 

*'  Aye,  aye,  sir." 

"  Pass  the  word  for  James  Wilson  and  William 
Harper." 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir." 

Then  followed  a  loud,  shrill  whistle,  accom- 
panied with  the  cry  of,  "  Away,  there,  cutters, 
away!"  We  were  also  summoned  to  appear, 
and  told  to  take  our  seats  in  the  cutter,  which  by 
this  time  lay  alongside,  manned  by  her  crew  of 
six  men,  who  sat  each  with  liis  oar  elevated  in 
the  air,  waiting  the  word  of  command.  We  were 
soon  seated,  the  lieutenant  passed  the  vvords,  "  Let 
fall,  and  give  way;"  the  oars  fell  into  the  water 
with  admirable  precision,  and  away  we  flew  to- 
wards the  shore. 

On  our  way  to  the  rendezvous,  T  told  my  com- 
panion  I  should  not  ship  in   the  John  Adams, 

nfi/»QnQO    or*   rVjriiTir   r\t    ir\f\    111  o  r»/->n<->V>''n  nc"   xi  J- /->■»•  .-^   n  l»«y>r« /!■•» 

there,  and  it  was  impossible  for  as  to  pass  for 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN    OF    WAR. 


171 


B  fallen 
ce  as  to 
Tie  with 

Dn,  who 
)o  much 
the  ren- 
irlicles ; 
fhcer  of 


r. 
William 


accom- 
cutters, 
appear, 
"hich  by 
:rew  of 
/ated  in 
\^e  were 
Is,  "  Let 
e  water 
flew  to- 
ny corn- 
Adams, 

pass  for 


Americans.  After  some  debate,  we  agreed  to- 
gether not  to  sign  the  articles.  On  entering  the 
house  where  the  stars  and  stripes  were  flying 
over  the  door,  in  token  of  its  being  the  naval  ren- 
dezvous, being  anxious  to  have  my  friend  Wilson 
pass  the  ordeal  first,  I  affected  to  stumble,  and 
then  continued  apparently  engaged  in  fixing  my 
shoe-string.  "  Well,  my  boy,  what  is  your  name  ? 
Just  sign  it  here,  will  you  ?"  said  the  officer. 

I  took  no  notice,  but  remained  very  busy  with 
my  shoes.  My  shipmate  replied  in  a  low,  bashful 
voice,  "  I  don't  like  to  ship,  sir." 

"  Very  well,  then  go  below,"  said  the  officer. 
At  this  juncture,  feeling  encouraged  by  his  re- 
mark, I  looked  up ;  when,  to  my  discomfiture, 
the  officer,  fixing  his  eyes  on  my  retreating  com- 
panion, observed,  "  That  fellow  will  certainly  be 
hung ;"  meaning  that  he  would  get  caught  by 
the  English.  Then,  addressing  me,  he  said, 
"  Now,  my  lad,  just  sign  your  name." 

"  Sir,"  said  I,  "  I  had  better  not  ship  alone.  The 
other  boy  is  only  frightened  ;  let  me  talk  to  him 
a  little,  and  I  can  persuade  him  to  ship  with  me.*' 

The  shipping  officer  was  too  old  a  bird  to  be 
snared  with  such  chaff  as  this.  So,  speaking 
rather  sharply,  he  said,  "  Let  him  go,  sir,  and 
ship  yourself;  then  he'll  come  back  and  join 
you ;  and" — he  smiled  as  he  spoke — "  I  will  let 
you  come  ashore  to  persuade  him,  in  a  day  or 


two." 


Still  I  pretended  not  to  be  convinced,  and,  after 


172 


A    VOTOK    FROM   THE    MAIN    DECK. 


m\ 


I 


considerable  deb;  lc,  he  let  me  ofT.  Once  more 
clear,  I  joined  my  young  shinmnte,  and  we  pro- 
ceeded together  to  our  bourdiiig-house,  congratu- 
lating ourselves  on  our  Ibitunatc  escape,  as  it 
appeared  to  us. 

Two  weeks  of  idleness  had  nearly  exhausted 
the  little  stock  of  funds  I  had  picked  up  on  board 
my  old  ship,  and  it  was  becoming  necessary  for 
me  to  nnd  some  means  or  other  of  supporting  my- 
self; for  although  the  prim  widow,  with  whom  I 
boarded,  was  quite  obliging  while  her  bills  were 
paid,  it  was  altogether  probable  that  she  would 
become  a  little  crusty  if  they  should  be  neglected. 
At  this  crisis  I  fortunately  met  with  an  English- 
man, who  had  visited  our  frigate  at  Hurl-gate. 
His  name  was  Smith ;  he  was  a  deserter  from  the 
British  army ;  but  was  now  settled  in  New  York, 
as  a  boot-maker,  in  the  employment  of  the  firm 
of  Benton  &  Co.,  Broadway.  He  offered  to  take 
me  and  initiate  me  into  the  art,  science  and  secrets 
of  boot-making.  Seeing  no  better  opportunity 
before  me,  I  accepted  his  kind  offer,  and  at  once 
entered  on  my  novitiate. 

Behold  me  then,  kind  reader,  transformed  from 
the  character  of  a  runaway  British  '^^ailor,  into 
that  of  a  quiet  scholar,  at  the  feet  of  St.  Crispin, 
where  in  the  matter  of  awls,  w^ax-ends,  lapstones 
and  pegs,  I  soon  became  quite  proficient. 

It  is  altogether  probable  that  the  rest  of  my  life 

"TtrrkTlIn  notrp  o*'"''Pn  oiTro-tr  -tn  il-iio  ctill  r»ir«H  /^m/-»f 
TT  •w'l-i.ivi      iiLi  T  C^     iriiv.t.C\i     ci^Tuy      ill      lino      oliii     ciiiu     vJuiv:;b 

manner,  but  for  a  report  that  reached  me,  one 
Sabbath,  as  I  was  wasting  its  precious  hours  in 


SIX   YEARS    IN    A   MAN    OP  WAR. 


173 


more 


as  It 


J 


Wfindorin.rf  n^jont  nmonc:  tli^  shipping.  This  wns, 
tliat  there  was  a  tall,  stout  seaman  on  hoard  the 
United  States,  named  Geor^^c  Turner.  From  the 
name  and  description,  T  l)ad  no  douht  that  liis  was 
my  cousin,  who  (the  reader  has  not  forgotten  I 
presinnc)  presented  himself  so  unceremoniously 
to  my  aunt  at  Wanstcad. 

This  intelligence  determined  me  to  pay  that 
frJL'-nte  a  visit,  (roing  on  hoard,  I  found  her  crew 
living  in  a  complete  Pvlysium  of  sensual  enjov- 
ment.  They  had  recently  received  their  prize 
money.  Salt  beef  and  pork  were  now  rejected 
with  disdain  :  Jack's  messkids  si  soked  with  more 
savory  viands,  such  as  soft  tack  (bread)  and  but  r, 
fried,  eggs  sausages,  &('.  ;  the  whole  well  soaked 
with  copious  streams  of  rum  and  brandy. 

Those  of  the  crew  who  had  been  m  the  Mace- 
donian, hailed  me  with  a  hearty  welcome ;  those 
for  whom  I  had  bought  tne  turkey  and  apples  at 
Christmas  repaid  me  fourfold,  so  thnt  when  I  went 
ashore  that  night  my  puri:e  was  as  heavy  as  r  i 
the  afternoon  when  I  quitted  my  ship.  My  cou  - 
in  di'^  not  recognise  me  at  first;  but  by  referring 
him  to  his  visit  to  mv  old  abode,  he  at  last  felt 
satisfied  that  I  was  hi  cousin.  He  then  charged 
me  not  to  mention  our  relationship,  oecause  he 
wished  to  pass  for  an  American.  Having  'ven 
me  this  charge,  he  surveyed  me  from  head  to 
foot,  and  then  said,  "W  lat  are  you  doing  in 
■New    X  uiii  V 

"  I  am  learning  to  make  Loots  and  shoes.'* 
15^ 


I 


.      ! 


174 


A    VOICE    FROM    THE    MAIN    DECK. 


Il^; 


"  I  am  sorry  you  are  bound  to  a  shoemaker," 
£aid  he  ;  "  I  don't  like  that  business." 

"  I  am  not  hoimd  to  Mr.  Smith,  but  can  leave 
him  when  I  please." 

"Well,  then,"  he  remarked  thouo-htfully,  ''I  don't 
want  you  to  go  to  sea  again.  Go  to  Salem,  in  the 
state  of  Massachusetts.  I  have  a  wife  and  chil- 
dren there,  and  shall  be  at  home  in  a  few  weeks." 

This  was  a  kind  offer,  and  I  at  once  agreed  to 
take  his  advice.  I  had  already  grown  somewhat 
weary  with  the  confinement  of  my  new  mode  of 
life,  though,  on  the  whole,  considering  my  educa- 
tion, and  the  character  of  the  influence  exerted 
upon  me  in  the  Macedonian,  I  was  a  steady  lad. 
Mr.  Smith  had  left  me  pretty  much  to  my  own 
inclinations  during  the  two  months  of  my  resi- 
dence with  him ;  yet  my  utmost  misconduct  had 
been  the  drinking  of  a  little  spirit,  and  the  viola- 
tion of  the  Sabbath  by  roaming  about  the  docks 
and  wharves.  My  Sabbath  evenings  I  had  usu- 
ally spent  in  a  more  profitable  manner,  it  being 
my  habit  to  spend  them  at  the  Methodist  chapel 
in  Duane  street. 

On  returning  to  the  house  of  my  kind  employer, 
I  lost  no  time  in  communicating  to  him  my  change 
of  purpose.  He  objected,  and  justly  too,  to  be 
left  just  as  the  pains  he  had  taken  to  instruct  me 
were  about  to  be  requited  by  my  usefulness. 
However,  as  I  offered  him  five  dollars,  he  con- 
sented to  my  departure. 

At  that  time  there  were  no  steamboats  plough- 


I 


\i 


SIX   YEARS    IN   A    MAN    OF   WAR. 


175 


jmaker," 

an  leave 

"I  do  n't 
m,  in  the 
.nd  chil- 
weeks." 
C^reed  to 
)me\vhat 
node  of 
Y  educa- 
exerted 
ady  lad. 
my  own 
my  resi- 
iuct  had 
le  viola- 
le  docks 
tad  usu- 
it  being" 
t  chapel 

nployer, 
'  change 
0,  to  be 
ruct  me 
(fulness, 
he  con- 


f 


pi 


ough- 


ing  the  waters  of  the  sound,  so  I  engaged  a  steer- 
age passage  to  Providence,  for  five  dollars,  on  board 
a  packet  sloop,  and,  with  a  light  heart  and  elas- 
tic step,  carried  my  clothes-bag  on  board.  Here, 
however,  I  met  with  a  trifling  loss.  AVhile  ashore 
waiting  for  a  fair  wind,  a  negro,  who  had  engaged 
a  passage  in  the  sloop,  robbed  my  bag  of  several 
articles  of  wearing  apparel,  and  took  French 
leave.  In  consideration  of  this  mishap,  the  cap- 
tain exacted  only  three  dollars  passage-money. 
From  Providence  a  stage,  chartered  exclusively 
by  a  party  of  i^ailors,  conveyed  me  to  Boston; 
from  whence  I  soon  reached  the  house  of  my 
cousin  in  Salem. 

Mrs.  Turner  received  me  with  great  kindness ; 
indeed,  she  pretended  not  to  ue  surprised  at  my 
visit,  assigning  as  a  reason  the  very  satisfactory 
fact  that  she  had  seen  me  with  my  bag  on  my 
shoulder  in  the  grounds  of  a  teacup  I  She  was 
a  believer  in  fortune-telling  and  dreams,  having, 
for  aught  I  know,  received  her  convictions  as  an 
heirloom  from  her  witch-burning  ancestors.  At 
any  rate,  she  was  stiongly  confirmed  in  her  favor- 
ite theoiy  by  my  tiniely  arrival ;  verifying,  as  it 
did,  to  the  very  particular  of  the  bag  on  the  shoul- 
der, the  truth-telling  tea-grounds. 

She  gave  me  another  proof,  after  I  had  been 
there  a  few  weeks,  of  the  truthfulness  and  verity 
of  dreams,  by  calling  me  up  one  morning,  with 
an  injunction  to  makp  hnsfp  \r\  tlip  Y^oc,f_«ffi«^    "V^ 

she  had  dreamed  of  catching  Jish.     Sure  enough, 


P 


i  ,1^ 


176 


A    VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN    DECK. 


if  she  ?ano:ht  no  fish  in  hor  dvonms,  she  cantrht  a 
very  liiu^  oik?  in  {lie  loltor  1  broni^^lit  to  her,  lor  it 
contained  a  one  hundred  dollar  hill  from  her  hus- 
band, with  information  that  his  ship  was  blockaded 
in  the  port  of  New  London  by  Commodore  Hardy. 
Accident  or  cnriosity,  I  foroet  whicli,  led  me  to 
attend  the  relio-ious  services  of  the  Baptists  in 
Salem.  They  were  eiijoyinor  a  season  of  reliirions 
refreshintr:  several  were  baptized.  The  hymn 
beg-inniniif  with  the  line — 

"  Oh  how  happy  arc  they  who  their  Saviour  obey," 
was  sung  as  the  converts  came  out  of  the  water, 
and  made  a  stron;^^  impression  on  my  mind.  Had 
some  devoted  Christian  made  himself  acquainted 
with  my  feelinrrs,  and  given  me  suitable  advice, 
there  is  no  doubt  but  that  I  should  have  been  led 
to  embrace  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  How  many 
divine  impressions  are  destroyed,  through  lack  of 
faithfulness  in  Christians  ! 

Perhaps  the  great  reason  why  tliese  serious 
impressions  were  so  transient,  was  because  the 
company  I  kept  was  so  unfavorable  to  their  growth. 
Most  of  my  time  was  spent  about  the  shipping: 
among  these  were  many  privateers,  the  profanity 
of  whose  crews  was  such  that  it  had  passed  into 
a  proverb.  It  w^as  usual  to  say  to  a  gross  swearer, 
"You  swear  like  a  privateer's-man."  Eeligion 
could  not  flourish  in  an  atmosphere  tainted  by 
their  vices. 

Amons:  mv  favorite  pursuits  wns  tbnt  n(^  ficTiinrr 
Sometimes  I  went  with  mixed  parties  of  males 


)}<V 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


177 


aufrht  a 
:?r,  for  it 
ler  hiis- 
nc'knded 
Hardy, 
d  me  to 
(tists  in 
oliiT-ions 
!    liymn 

boy," 

3  water, 
Had 
uaintod 
advice, 
een  led 
IT  many 
lack  of 

serious 
use  the 
growth, 
ipping : 
'ofanity 
ed  into 
wearer, 
'eligion 
ited  by 


'  males 


! 


:4 

i 


and  females ;  at  others,  with  a  few  sailor  com- 
panions. One  of  these  excursions  came  very 
near  costing  rather  more  that),  it  was  worth.  We 
had  been  out  all  night;  towards  morning  we 
thought  we  would  get  a  little  sleep,  and  for  this 
purpose  laid  ourselves  down  under  the  top-gallant 
forecastle.  Luckily  for  us,  we  had  an  old  sailor, 
named  Lewis  Deal,  on  board.  He  had  been 
quartermaster  on  board  the  United  States.  Know- 
ing that  the  coast  was  strictly  guarded  by  British 
cruisers,  he  kept  awake.  Just  at  dawn  the  bang 
of  a  single  gun  led  him  to  call  us,  saying,  "  There, 
I  told  you  to  look  out  for  Johnny  Bull." 

Looking  about  us,  we  saw  an  English  gun  brig 
in  chase  after  a  Boston  sloop.  This  was  a  sight 
that  inspired  us  with  a  very  sud('.en  and  wonder- 
ful agility,  since  we  had  a  decided  repugnance  to 
a  free  passage  in  the  aforesaid  brig  to  Halifax ; 
especially  as  in  my  case  it  might  have  the  rather 
unpleasant  termination  of  an  airing  at  the  yard- 
arm  ;  which,  for  very  strong  reasons,  I  chose  to 
avoid  if  possible. 

By  dint  of  strong  arms  and  quick  movements, 
we  succeeded  in  hauling  in  our  anchor  and  getting 
under  weigh,  without  attracting  the  Englishman's 
attention.  Expecting  a  shot  at  our  heels  every 
moment,  we  sat  breathlessly  measuring  our  dis- 
tance from  the  brig.  Fortunately,  we  escaped 
notice,  and  reached  Salem  in  safety. 

Shortly  after  this  adventure,  the  (rood  citizens 
of  Salem  were  thrown  into  a  high  state  of  excite- 


m 


178 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


merit  by  the  noise  of  a  heavy  cannonading.     A 
general  rush  look  place  from  all  quarters  towards 
the  Neck.    I  followed  with  the  rest.     We  found  it 
to  be  occasioned  by  the  engagement  between  tbe 
Chesapeoke  and  Shannon,  in  compliance  with  a 
challenge,  sent  by  the  latter,  which  was  accepted 
by  Captain  Lawrence,  of  the  former.     The  result 
is  well  known.     After  a  short  action,  the  Chesa- 
peake struck   to   the    Shannon,  and  was  carried 
away  by  the  victors,  in  triumph,  to  Halifax.    One 
reason  for  the  defeat  of  the  American  frigate,  may 
perhaps  be  found  in  the  fact  that  her  crew  were 
newly  shipped;    some   of  them   were    volunteer 
landsmen,  while  none  of  them  had  what  sailors 
call  their  sea-legs  on.     No  ship  is  fit  for  action 
until  she  has  been  at  sea  at  least  a  month.     In 
this  action  the  captain,  first  lieutenant,  and  sev- 
eral men,  were  killed.    Mr.  George  Crowninshield 
sent  a  vessel  to  Halifax  for  the  bodies  of  those 
gallant  officers ;  th^y  were  interred  in  Salem  with 
naval  honors. 

My  cousin,  having  now  reached  home,  was 
desirous  to  have  me  devote  myself  to  some  busi- 
ness. He  proposed  that  of  a  sailmaker ;  but 
by  this  time  I  had  quite  a  desire  to  go  to  sea 
again. 

The  Constitution,  the  Frolic  sloop  of  war,  and 
the  gun  brig  Syren,  were  all  shipping  hands  in 
Boston.  My  feelings  inclined  me  towards  old 
Ironsidesj  but  my  cousin,  having  sailed  with 
Captain  Ji'arker,  of  the  Syren,  recommended  that 


'^ 


I*!^i 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


179 


ding.  A 
3  towards 
)  found  it 
kveen  the 
e  with  a 
accepted 
he  result 
e  Chesa- 
!  carried 
IX.  One 
ate,  may 
ew  were 

t  sailors 
>r  action 
nth.  In 
md  sev- 
linshield 
of  those 
em  with 

ne,  was 
ne  busi- 
er ;  but 
•  to  sea 

^ir,  and 
ands  in 
rds  old 
d  with 
ed  that 


■■'Sj^S^'' 


orFicer  so  strongly,  that  I  was  induced  to  join  his 
ship,  in  company  with  the  quartermaster  and  sev- 
eral of  the  former  hands  of  the  United  States. 
My  cousin  also  overruled  my  design  of  shipping 
in  a  false  name  ;  so  that,  in  defiance  of  my  fears,  I 
suffered  myself  to  be  entered  as  Samuel  Leech,  on 
the  books  of  the  U.  S.  brig  Syren,  of  sixteen  guns. 
The  payment  of  three  months'  advance,  with  the 
sum  I  brought  with  me  from  New  York,  enabled 
me  honorably  to  discharge  my  board  bills  at  my 
cousin's,  and  to  purchase  the  little  clothing  neces- 
sary to  fit  me  for  sea.  I  was  then  in  the  seven- 
teenth year  of  my  life. 

Once  more  in  a  man  of  war,  my  seriousness  all 
vanished  like  mist  before  the  sun.  Alas,  it  was 
poor  soil  to  nourish  the  seed  of  life !  barren  of 
everything  that  related  to  purity,  religion,  and 
immortality. 

My  first  imfi!^««ions  of  the  American  service 
were  very  favoraHe.  The  treatment  in  the  Syren 
was  more  lenient  and  favorable  than  in  the  Mace- 
donian. The  captain  and  officers  were  kind, 
while  there  was  a  total  exemption  from  that  petty 
tyranny  exercised  by  the  upstart  midshipmen  in 
the  British  service.  As  a  necessary  effect,  our 
crew  were  as  comfortable  and  as  happy  as  men 
ever  are  in  a  man  of  war. 

While  we  lay  in  Boston  harbor,  thanksgiving- 
day  arrived.  Some  of  our  Salem  men  inquired 
if  I  was  not  going  home  to  keep  thanksgiving,  for 
they  all  supposed  I  belonged  to  Salem.     Wimt 


180 


A   VOICE    EfiOM   THE   MAIN    DECK. 


#*- 


they  meant  by  "  thanksgiving,"  was  a  mystery  to 
me,  but,  dissembling  my  ignorance,  I  obtained 
leave,  determined  to  learn  what  it  meant.  The 
result  of  my  visit  was  the  idea  that  thanksgiving- 
day,  was  one  m  which  the  people  crammed  them- 
selves with  turkeys,  figese,  pumpkin-pies,  &c.  ; 
for,  certainly,  that  wa^he  chief  business  of  the 
day,  so  far  as  I  could  perceive.  With  too  many 
people,  I  believe  that  this  is  the  leading  idea 
associated  with  the  day  even  now. 

Our  brig  had  before  this  taken  in  her  guns, 
consisting  of  two  long  nine-pounders,  twelveg^ 
twenty-four  pound  carronades,  and  two  forty- 
two  pounders.  Our  crew  was  composed  of  some 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  smart,  active  men. 
We  were  all  supplied  with  stout  leather  caps, 
something  like  those  used  by  firemen.  These 
were  crossed  by  two  strips  of  iron,  covered 
with  bearskin,  and  were  designed  to  defend  the 
head,  in  boarding  an  enemy's  ship,  from  the  stroke 
of  the  cutlass.  Strips  of  bearskin  were  likewise 
used  to  fasten  them  on,  serving  the  purpose  of 
false  whiskers,  and  causing  us  to  look  as  fierce  as 
hungry  wolves.  We  were  also  frequently  exer- 
cised in  the  various  evolutions  of  a  sea-fight ;  first 
using  our  cannon,  then  seizing  our  cutlasses  and 
boarding-pikes,  and  cutting  to  the  right  and  left, 
as  if  in  the  act  of  boarding  an  enemy's  ship.  Thus 
we  spent  our  time  from  early  in  the  fall  until 
after  Christmas,  when  we  received  orders  to  hold 
ourselves  in  readiness  for  sea. 


# 


r 

t] 
b 
a 
c 
c 
t] 
ii 
o 

d 


^ 


ystery  to 
obtained 
nt.  The 
ksgiving- 
ed  them- 
es, &c.  ; 
ss  of  the 

00  iDariy 
ing  idea 

er  guns, 
,  twelve 
ro    forty- 

of  some 

ive  men. 

ler  caps, 

These 

covered 
fend  the 
fie  stroke 
likewise 
rpose  of 
fierce  as 
tly  exer- 
:ht;  first 
sses  and 
and  left, 
■).  Thus 
ill  until 

1  to  hold 


W 


^ 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Plan  to  capture  the  Nimrod  dweated  by  the  wind— Orders 
to  sail  for  Africa— Leave  Boston— Voyage  to  the  Afri- 
can coast — Death  of  the  captain — An  unpleasant  catas- 
trophe— 3Ir.  Nicholson  assumes  the  command — The 
Grand  Turk  frightened— Trade  with  the  natives— Short 
allowance  of  water — An  enemy — Battle  of  Senegal — 
A  Yankee  trick — The  Syren  reaches  St.  Thomas — A 
prize — Another  captuic— Petty  tyranny  resisted— The 
gunner's  water  keg  robbed— The  Syren  refitted  at 
Angola — She  starts  for  America — Passes  the  island 
of  Ascension— A  sail — Anecdote— Chase— The^yren 
captured  by  the  Medway  seventy-four— Short  dlow- 
ance — Landed  at  Sunmond's  Town — A  painful  journey 
— Arrival  at  the  prison  in  Cape  Town. 

As  we  lay  waiting  for  our  final  orders,  a  report 
reached  us  that  a  large  English  brig  of  war,  called 
the  Nimrod,  lay  in  a  cove  somewhere  near  Boston 
bay.  Upon  this  information,  our  officers  planned 
a  night  expedition  for  the  purpose  of  ejecting  her 
capture.  Our  intended  mode  of  attack  was  to  run 
close  alongside,  pour  a  broadside  upon  her,  and 
then,  without  further  cerern  joy,  board  her,  cutlass 
in  hand.  So  we  took  in  our  powder,  ground  up 
our  cutlasses,  and  towards  night  got  under  weigh. 
A  change  in  the  wind,  however,  defeated  our 
designs,  and  we  put  into  Salem  harbor,  with  no 
16 


Ip 


182 


A   VOICE    mpM   THE    MAIN    DECK. 


Other  result  than  the  freezing  of  a  man's  finpfors, 
which  Iiappened  wliilo  we  were  IVirliiin^  our  sails. 
Thus  ended  our  iirst  warlike  ex])edilion  in  the 
Syren, 

Shortly  after  this  alliiir,  we  received  orders  to 
start  on  ii  cruise  to  the  coast  of  Africa,  and,  in 
company  with  the  (Jrwid  Turk,  a  privateer,  set 
sail  from  Salem.  Passinir  the  fort,  we  received 
the  usual  hail  from  the  sentry,  of  "  Brig-  ahoy ! 
where  are  you  hound  to?" 

To  this  salutation  the  first  lieutenant  jocosely 
answered,  "  There,  and  hack  aufain,  on  a  man  of 
war's  cruise."  Such  a  reply  would  not  have  sat- 
isfied a  British  soldier;  but  we  shot  past  the  fort 
unmolested.  After  two  days  we  parted  company 
with  the  Grand  Turk,  and  by  the  aid  of  a  fair 
wind  soon  found  ourselves  in  the  Gulf  Stream ; 
where,  instead  of  fearinpf  frozen  finc^ers,  we  could 
go  barefooted  and  feel  quite  comfortable. 

We  now  kept  a  sharp  look-out  at  the  mast- 
head, but  met  with  nothings  until  we  reached  the 
Canary  Islands,  near  which  we  saw  a  boat-load 
of  Portuguese,  who,  coming  alongside,  talked  in 
their  native  tongue  with  great  noise  and  earnest- 
ness, but  were  no  more  intelligible  to  us  than  so 
many  blackbirds. 

While  off  the  African  coast,  our  captain  died. 
His  wasted  body  was  placed  in  a  coffin,  with  shot 
to  sink  it.  After  tlie  service  had  been  read,  the 
plank  on  which  the  coffin  rested  was  elevated, 
and  ii  slipped  into  the  great  deep.     The  yards 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A    MAN   OF   WAR. 


183 


finpfcrs, 
ur  sails. 
1  in  the 

rders  to 
and,  in 
*eer,  set 
received 
T-  ahoy ! 

jocosely 
man  of 
ave  sat- 
the  fort 
onipany 
f  a  fair 
Stream ; 
re  could 

5  inast- 
hed  the 
oat-load 
.Iked  in 
earnest- 
than  so 

n  died, 
ith  shot 
3ud,  the 
levated, 
3  yards 


t 


were  braced  round,  and  we  were  under  weigh 
ajT^ain,  when,  to  our  surprise  and  p^rief,  we  saw  the 
coinn  floating  on  the  waves.  The  reason  was, 
the  carpenter  had  bored  holes  in  the  top  and  bot- 
tom ;  he  should  have  made  them  only  in  the  top. 

After  the  funeral,  the  crew  were  called  aft,  and 
the  first  lieutenant,  Mr.  Nicholson,  told  us  that  it 
should  be  left  to  our  decision  whether  he  should 
assume  the  command  and  continue  the  cruise,  or 
returi .  home.  We  gave  him  three  hearty  cheers, 
in  token  of  our  wish  to  continue  the  cruise.  He 
was  a  noble-minded  man,  very  kind  and  civil  to 
his  crew ;  and  the  opposite,  in  every  respect,  to  the 
haughty,  lordly  captain  with  whom  I  first  sailed 
in  the  Macedonian.  Seeing  me  one  day  with 
rather  a  poor  hat  on,  he  called  me  aft  and  present- 
ed me  with  one  of  his  own,  but  little  worn. 
"  Good  luck  to  him,"  said  I,  in  sailor  phrase,  as  I 
returned  to  my  messmates ;  "  he  has  a  soul  to  be 
saved."  We  also  lost  two  of  our  crew,  who  fell 
victims  to  the  heat  of  the  climate. 

One  morning  the  cry  of  "Sail  ho!"  directed 
our  attention  to  a  strange  sail,  which  had  hove  to, 
with  her  courses  hauled  up.  At  first,  we  took 
her  for  a  British  man-of-war  brig.  The  hands 
were  summoned  to  quarters,  and  the  ship  got  ready 
for  action.  A  nearer  approach,  however,  con- 
vinced us  that  the  supposed  enemy,  was  no  other 
than  our  old  friend,  the  Grand  Turk.  She  did 
not  appear  to  know  us ;  for  no  sooner  did  she  see 
that  our  craft  was  a  brig  of  war,  than,  supposing 


I 


?*;*S'*:~  ■•"-' 


i^^i 


I 


#*         184  A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 

t 

US  to  belong  to  Johnny  Bull,  she  crowded  nil  her 
canvass,  and  nmdo  the  best  of  her  way  off.    Know- 
^    ing  what  she  was,  we  permitted  her  to  escape 
without  further  alarm. 

The  iirst  land  w(!  made  was  Cape  Mount.  The 
natives  came  olfto  a  considerable  distance  in  their 
canoes,  clothed  in  nothing  but  a  piece  of  cloth 
fastened  round  the  waist,  and  extending  downward 
to  the  feet.  As  we  approached  the  shore,  we  saw 
several  fires  burning;  this,  we  were  told,  in  the 
broken  English  spoken  by  our  sable  visitors,  was 
the  signal  for  trade.  We  bought  a  quantity  of 
oranges,  limes,  cocoamits,  tamarinds,  plantains, 
yams  and  bananas.  We  likewise  took  in  a  quan- 
tity of  cassada,  a  species  of  ground  root,  of  which 
we  made  tolerable  pudding  and  bread ;  also  a  few 
hogs  and  some  water. 

We  lay  here  several  days,  looking  out  for  any 
English  vessels  that  might  come  thither  for  pur- 
poses of  trade. 

Meanwhile,  we  began  to  experience  the  incon- 
venience of  a  hot  climate.  Our  men  were  all 
covered  with  blotches  or  boils,  probably  occasioned 
by  so  sudden  a  transition  from  extreme  cold  to 
extreme  heat.  What  was  worse  than  this,  was 
tlie  want  of  a  plentiful  supply  of  water.  In  the 
absence  of  this,  we  were  placed  on  an  allowance 
of  two  quarts  per  diem,  to  each  man.  This  occa- 
sioned us  much  suffering ;  for,  after  mixing  our 
Indian  for  puddings,  our  cassada  for  bread,  and  our 
whiskv  for  p-rosr.  we  hnd  hnt  li'ttj^  i^a  ♦ - 


SIX   YEARS   IN    A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


185 


nil  her 

Knovv- 

>  escape 

It.  The 
in  their 
of  cloth 
wnward 
we  saw 
,  in  the 
)rs,  was 
lUity  of 
antains, 
a  quan- 
f  which 
0  a  few 

for  any 
for  pur- 

incon- 
ere  all 
isioned 
cold  to 
is,  was 

In  the 
jwance 
s  occa- 
ng  our 
nd  our 


SSUagd 


;^. 


our  burninpr  thirst.  Some,  in  their  distress,  drank 
\u.riro  f|nanlitics  of  soa  water,  which  only  increased 
their  thirst  and  made  them  sick;  others  sought 
relief  in  chewing  lead,  tea-leaves,  or  anything 
which  would  create  moisture.  Never  did  wo  feel 
more  delighted  than  when  our  boat's  crew  an- 
nounced the  discovery  of  a  pool  of  fine  clear  water. 
We  received  it  with  greater  satisfaction  than  ever 
prodigal  did  tidings  of  the  death  of  some  rich  old 
relative,  to  whose  well-laden  purse  he  was  undis- 
puted heir.  We  could  have  joined  in  the  most 
enthusiastic  cold-water  song  ever  sung  by  either 
hermit  or  Washingtonian. 

While  cruising  along  the  coast,  we  one  night 
perceived  a  large  ship  lying  at  anchor  near  the 
shore.  We  could  not  decide  whether  she  was  a 
large  merchantman  or  a  man  of  war ;  so  we  ap- 
proached her  with  the  utmost  caution.  Our 
doubts  were  soon  removed,  for  she  suddenly  loosed 
all  her  sails  and  made  chase  after  us.  By  the 
help  of  their  glasses,  our  officers  ascertained  her 
to  be  an  English  frigate.  Of  course,  it  was  folly 
to  engage  her ;  so  we  made  all  the  sail  we  could 
carry,  beat  to  quarters,  lighted  our  matches,  and 
lay  down  at  our  guns,  expecting  to  be  prisoners  of 
war  before  morning.  During  the  night  we  hung 
out  false  lights,  and  altered  our  course ;  this  baifled 
our  pursuer ;  in  the  morning  she  was  no  more  to 
be  seen. 

The  next  sail  we  made  was  not  so  formidable. 
She  was  an  English  vessel  at  anchor  in  the  Swii-< 
16^ 


I 


186 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN    DECK. 


egal  river.  We  approached  her  and  hailed.  Her 
officer  returned  an  insolent  reply,  which  so  exas- 
perated our  captain  that  he  passed  the  word  to  fire 
into  her,  but  recalled  it  almost  immediately.  The 
countermand  was  too  late  ;  for  in  a  moment,  every- 
thing being  ready  for  action,  we  poured  a  whole 
broadside  into  our  unfortunate  foe.  The  current 
carried  us  away  from  the  stranger.  We  attempted 
to  beat  up  again,  but  our  guns  had  roused  the 
garrison  in  a  fort  which  commanded  the  river; 
they  began  to  blaze  away  at  us  in  so  expressive  a 
manner,  that  we  found  it  prudent  to  get  a  little 
beyond  the  reach  of  their  shot,  and  patiently  wait 
for  daylight. 

The  next  morning  we  saw  our  enemy  hauled 
close  in  shore,  under  the  protection  of  the  fort,  and 
filled  with  soldiers.  At  first,  it  was  resolved  to 
man  the  boats  and  cut  her  out;  but  this,  after 
weighing  the  subject  maturely,  was  pronounced  to 
be  too  hazardous  an  experiment,  and,  notwithstand- 
ing our  men  begged  to  make  the  attempt,  it  was 
wisely  abandoned.  How  many  were  killed  by 
our  hasty  broadside,  we  never  learned,  but  doubt- 
less several  poor  fellows  were  hurried  to  a  watery 
and  unexpected  grave,  affording  another  illustra- 
tion of  the  beauty  of  war.  This  affair  our  men 
humorously  styled  "  the  battle  of  Senegal." 

After  visiting  Cape  Three  Points,  we  shaped  our 
course  for  St.  Thomas.  On  our  way,  we  lost  a 
prize  through  a  display  of  Yankee  cunning  in  her 

COmmnndpr.        Wp     haA      Vinicforl      F-Mn-lioVi     /«/^1r.ra  • 


SIX   YEARt    i:.    A  MAN   '  v    WAR. 


1^^ 


the  officer  in  r  Maand  of  the  stranrjfer  was  pretty- 
well  versed  "  uiC  secrets  of  false  colors,  and  ia 
return, he  i  up  the  Aniericii  flag.  The  bait 
took:  suppc  11,  her  to  I  Ar  eric-  we  showed 
the  star^  and  strijjes.     This  v  ut  merchant- 

man desireu.  It  told  him  what  w  were,  and  he 
made  all  possible  sai'  or  St.  Thomas.  We  fol- 
lowed, crowding  every  stitch  of  canvass  our  brig 
could  cftrry ;  we  also  got  out  our  sweeps  and 
swept  her  along,  but  in  vain.  The  merchantman 
was  the  better  sailer,  and  succ  ^ded  in  reaching 
St.'  Sthomas,  which,  being  a  neua'al  port,  secured 
her  safety.  Her  name  was  the  Jane,  of  Liverpool. 
The  next  morning,  another  Liverpool  merchant- 
man got  into  the  harbor,  unseen  by  our  look-out 
until  she  was  under  the  protection  of  the  laws  of 
neutrality. 

Our  next  business  was  to  watch  the  mouth  of 
the  harbor,  in  the  hope  of  catching  them  as  they 
left  port.  But  they  were  too  cautious  to  run  into 
danger,  especially  as  they  were  expecting  a  con- 
voy for  their  protection,  which  might  make  us 
glad  to  trust  more  to  our  canvass  than  to  our  can- 
non. 

Shortly  after  this  occurrence,  we  made  another 
sail  standing  in  towards  St.  Thomas.  Hoisting 
English  colors,  our  officers  also  donning  the  Brit- 
ish uniform,  we  soon  came  near  enough  to  hail 
her ;  for,  not  doubting  that  we  were  a  British  brig, 
the  merchantman  made  no  effort  to  escape  us. 


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188 


A  VOICE   FROM  THE   MAIN   DECK. 


,  ♦  ^. 


"  Halloa ! " 

"What  ship  is  that?" 

«  The  ship  Barton." 

"  Where  do  you  belong  ?  " 

"  To  Liverpool." 

"  What  is  your  cargo  ?  " 

"  Red-wood,  palm  oil  and  ivory." 

"  Where  are  you  bound  to  ? " 

"  To  St.  Thomas." 

Just  at  that  moment  our  English  flag  was 
hauled  down,  and,  to  the  inexpressible  annoyance 
of  the  officers  of  the  Barton,  the  stars  and  stfipes 
supplied  its  place. 

"  Haul  down  your  colors  ! "  continued  Captain 
Nicholson. 

The  old  captain,  who,  up  to  this  moment,  had 
been  enjoying  a  comfortable  nap  in  his  very  com- 
fortable cabin,  now  came  upon  deck  in  his  shirt 
-sleeves,  rubbing  his  eyes,  and  looking  so  exquis- 
itely ridiculous,  it  was  scarcely  possible  to  avoid 
laughing.  So  surprised  was  he  at  the  unex- 
pected termination  of  his  dreams,  he  could  not 
command  skill  enough  to  strike  his  colors ;  which 
was  accordingly  done  by  the  mate.  As  they  had 
two  or  three  guns  aboard,  and  as  some  of  the  men 
looked  as  if  they  would  like  to  fight,  our  captain 
told  us,  if  they  fired,  to  not  "  leave  enough  of  her 
to  boil  a  tin  pot  with."  After  this  expressive  and 
classical  threat,  we  lowered  our  boats  and  took 
possession  of  this  our  first  prize. 

After  taking  out  as  much  of  her  cargo  as  we 


SIX  YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


189 


*#^ 


g  was 
oyance 
stfipes 


aptain 


nt,  had 
y  com- 
s  shirt 
2xquis- 
►  avoid 
unex- 
ild  not 
which 
ey  had 
le  men 
captain 
of  her 
ve  and 
d  took 

as  we 


desired,  just  at  night  we  set  her  on  fire.  It  was 
an  imposing  sight,  to  behold  the  antics  of  the 
flames,  leaping  from  rope  to  rope,  and  from  spar 
to  spar,  until  she  looked  like  a  fiery  cloud  resting 
on  the  dark  surface  of  the  water.  Presently,  her 
spars  began  to  fall,  her  masts  went  by  the  board, 
her  loaded  guns  went  off,  the  hull  was  burned  to 
the  water's  edge,  and  what,  a  few  hours  before, 
was  a  fine,  trim  ship,  looking  like  a  winged  crea- 
ture of  the  deep,  lay  a  shapeless,  charred  mass, 
whose  blackened  outline,  shadowed  in  the  clear, 
still  waves,  looked  like  the  grim  spirit  of  war 
lurking  for  its  prey. 

This  wanton  destruction  of  property  was  in 
accordance  with  our  instructions,  "  to  sink^  burn 
and  destroy"  whatever  we  took  from  the  enemy. 
Such  is  the  war-spirit !  Sink,  burn  and  destroy  ! 
how  it  sounds !  Yet  such  are  the  instructions 
given  by  Christian  (?)  nations  to  their  agents  in 
time  of  war.  What  Christian  will  not  pray  for 
the  destruction  of  such  a  spirit  ? 

The  crew  of  the  Barton  we  carried  into  St. 
Thomas,  and  placed  them  on  board  the  Jane, 
excepting  a  Portuguese  and  two  colored  men, 
who  shipped  among  our  crew.  We  also  took 
with  us  a  fine  black  spaniel  dog,  whom  the 
men  called  by  the  name  of  Paddy.  This  done, 
we  proceeded  to  watch  for  fresh  victims,  on  which 
to  wreak  the  vengeance  of  the  war-spirit. 

The  next  sail  we  met,  was  an  English  brig, 
called  the  Adventure ;  which  had  a  whole  mena- 


A^ 


190 


A  VOICE   FROM  THE   MAIN   DECK. 


gerie  of  monkeys  on  board.  We  captured  and 
burned  her,  just  as  we  did  the  Barton.  Her  crew 
were  also  disposed  of  in  the  same  manner.  One 
of  them,  an  African  prince,  who  had  acquired  a 
tolerable  education  in  England,  and  who  was 
remarkably  polite  and  sensible,  shipped  in  the 
Syren.     His  name  was  Samuel  Quaqua. 

We  now  remained  at  St.  Thomas  several  days, 
carrying  on  a  petty  trade  with  the  natives.  Our 
men  bought  all  kinds  of  fruit,  gold  dust  and  birds. 
For  these  things,  we  gave  them  articles  of  cloth- 
ing, tobacco,  knives,  &c.  For  an  old  vest,  I 
obtained  a  large  basket  of  oranges;  for  a  hand 
of  tobacco,  five  large  cocoanuts :  a  profitable 
exchange  on  my  side ;  since,  although  I  drew 
my  tobacco  of  the  purser,  I  fortunately  never 
acquired  the  habit  of  using  it ;  a  loss  I  never 
regretted.  My  cocoanuts  were  far  more  gratify- 
ing and  valuable  when  we  got  to  sea,  parckpd 
with  thirst,  and  suffering  for  water,  than  all  the 
tobacco  in  the  ship. 

While  in  this  port,  I  had  to  throw  myself  on  the 
protection  of  the  officers,  to  avoid  the  disposition 
to  abuse  which  existed  in  one  of  the  petty  ofl[icers. 
Several  of  these  gentlemen,  who  messed  together, 
had  a  large  boy  to  wait  on  them.  He  was  unac- 
quainted with  naval  usages,  and  somewhat  awk- 
ward withal.  This  led  them  to  oppress  him: 
they  frequently  knocked  him  round,  and  even 
ventured  to  flog  him  with  a  rope's-end.  The 
poor  lad  used  to  cry,  and  fret  about  it,  leading 


i 


SIX   YEAiS   IN   A   MAN    OF   WAR. 


191 


red  and 
[er  crew 
r.  One 
quired  a 
ho  was 
i  in  the 

ral  days, 
s.  Our 
id  birds. 
of  cloth- 
[  vest,  I 

a  hand 

)rontable 

.  I  drew 

ly  never 

I  never 

gratify- 

parchpd 

I  all  the 

If  on  the 
sposition 

officers, 
together, 
as  unac- 
lat  awk- 
ss  him: 
nd  even 
I.      The 

leading 


? 


quite  a  miserable  life.  Ey  some  means,  it  hap- 
pened that  I  was  ordered  to  take  his  place ;  and 
I  determined  to  resist  their  habit  of  punishing 
their  servant ;  so,  one  day,  when  the  gunner  came 
below  for  his  share  of  the  whisky,  and  found  i\ 
was  gone,  his  messmates  having  drank  the  whole, 
and  asked  me  for  his  whisky,  I  boldly  answered. 
"  I  know  nothing  about  it." 

At  this,  he  broke  out  into  a  furious  passion, 
declaring  that  if  I  did  not  find  his  whisky  h« 
would  have  my  heart's  blood. 

To  this  dignified  and  manly  threat  I  made  no 
reply,  but  proceeded  forthwith  to  the  first  lieuten- 
ant, and  laid  the  facts  before  him.  Th^  gunner 
was  sent  for,  reprimanded,  and  threatened  with 
degradation,  if  ever  he  either  struck  or  offered  to 
strike  me  again.  Of  course,  I  had  no  further 
trouble  with  these  would-be  tyrants. 

The  only  other  difficulty  I  ever  had  on  board  the 
Syren,  was  with  a  young  midshipman,  who  was 
on  his  first  voyage — who  was,  in  sailor's  language, 
"a  real  green-horn."  He  ordered  me,  one  day, 
to  wash  his  clothes.  I  refused,  saying  it  was  not 
my  duty.  Putting  on  the  air  of  a  pompous  man, 
lie  told  me  it  was  my  duty  to  obey  an  officer,  and 
I  should  do  it.  I  persisted  in  resisting  this  sprig 
of  American  aristocracy,  and  as  I  heard  no  more 
of  it,  I  suppose  he  learned  that  he  was  in  the 


wrong. 


15"* 


The  effect  of  my  conduct  ,on  the  gunner  was 
seen  a  .short  time  afterwards,  in    the   following 


"Jit.. 


i'l 


192 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    iIaIN    DECK. 


!| 


ii.i 


!|« 


little  incident,  which  will  also  show  the  reader 
the  nature  of  the  pranks  practised  in  men  of  war, 
by  the  hands.  The  o^unner  was  a  very  selfish 
man,  and  somehow,  when  we  were  on  short 
allowance  of  water,  he  contrived  to  keep  a  keg" 
filled,  which  ho  kept  in  a  small  state-room ;  and 
a  man  might  choke  before  he  would  part  with  a 
drop.  One  night,  when  my  throat  was  parched 
with  thirst,  I  met  the  boatswain's  mate,  and  said, 
"  If  I  were  minded  to  play  the  rogue,  I  could 
hook  some  water." 

The  mate,  who  was  as  dry  as  myself,  looked 
mightily  gratified  at  this  piece  of  news,  and  asked, 
"Where?" 

"  I  have  a  key  that  will  fit  the  lock  of  the  room 
where  the  gunner  keeps  his  water  keg." 

"  Well,"  said  he,  "  give  me  the  key.  I  will 
be  the  rogue,  while  you  keep  watch  for  the  old 
gunner." 

After  drinkinsr  all  we  desired,  we  locked  the 
door  and  returned  to  our  posts,  wondering  hov 
the  gunner  would  feel  when  he  found  that  soniw 
one  had  been  practising  the  arithmetical  rule, 
called  reduction,  on  his  water  keg. 

The  next  day  the  offended  gunner  threw  out 
sundry  hints  to  his  messmates  about  his  loss,  indi- 
rectly charging  them  with  the  robbery.  This 
drew  down  their  wrath  upon  him,  and  he  was 
compelled  to  be  content  with  swallowing  his 
choler,  and  getting  a  new  lock  for  his  state-room. 
In  all  his  rage  he  never  uttered  a  word  to  me : 
be  had  not  forgotten  my  appeal  to  his  superiors. 


i 

"I 

i 


SIX   YEARS    IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


193 


3  reader 
I  of  war, 
y  selfish 
n  short 
p  a  keg" 
)m ;  and 
t  with  a 
parched 
nd  said, 
I   could 

*,  looked 
id  asked, 

;he  room 

I  will 
the  old 

iked  the 
inq"  hov» 
lat  soniw 
:al   rule, 

irew  out 
OSS,  indi- 
f.     This 

he  was 
'ing  his 
Lte-room. 

to  me: 
)eriors. 


From  St.  Thomas  we  proceeded  to  Angola, 
where  we  staid  lonrr  enough  to  clean,  paint\nd 
refit  our  brig,  from  stem  to  stern.  This  was  the 
last  port  we  intended  to  touch  at  on  the  coast  of 
Africa.  Our  next  anchorage  was  to  be  in  Boston 
harbor— at  least  so  we  purposed  ;  but  Providence 
and  the  British  ordered  it  otherwise. 

To  accomplish  our  object,  we  had  to  run  the 
gauntlet  through  the  host  of  English  cruisers  that 
hovered  about,  like  birds  of  prey,  along  both  sides 
of  the  Atlantic  coast.  This  enterprise  appeared 
so  impossible  to  my  mind,  while  we  lay  at  Angola, 
and  the  fear  of  being  retaken  and  hung  operated 
so  strongly  on  my  imagination,  that,  more  than 
once,  I  determined  to  run  away  and  find  a  refuge 
among  the  Africans  ;  but  my  better  judgment  pre- 
vailed at  last,  and  I  continued  at  my  post. 

Still,  I  used  every  possible  precaution  to  escape 
detection  in  case  of  our  capture.     In  accordance 
with  the  custom  of  our  navy  at  that  period,  I  let 
my  hair  grow  long  behind.     To  change  my  looks 
more  eflfectually,  instead  of  tying  mine  in  a  cue  as 
the  others  did,  I  let  it  hang  in  ringlets  all  round 
my  face  and  neck.    This,  together  with  the  effect  of 
time,  caused  me  to  appear  quite  a  diflferent  lad 
from  what  I  was,  when  a  boy,  on  board  the  Mace- 
donian.    I  also  adopted  that  peculiarity  of  dress 
practised  by  American  men-of-war's-men,  which 
consisted  in  wearing  my  shirt  open  at  the  neck, 
with  the  corners  thrown  back.     On  these  corners 
a  device  was  wrought,  consisting  of  the  stars  of 
17 


!'<1 


fl 


194 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK, 


•■!         I 


the  American  flag,  with  the  British  flag  under- 
neath. By  these  means  I  hop(;d  to  pass  for  a 
genuine  Yankee,  without  suspicion,  in  case  we 
should  fall  into  English  hands. 

Having  finished  our  preparations,  we  left  An- 
gola for  Boston.  We  reached  the  island  of  As- 
cension in  safety,  where  was  a  post-office  of  a 
truly  patriarchal  character.  A  box  is  nailed  to  a 
post  near  the  shore.  Ships  that  pass  send  to  the 
box  and  deposit  or  take  out  letters,  as  the  case 
may  be.  This  is  probably  the  cheapest  general 
post-office  establishment  in  the  world. 

We  had  scarcely  left  this  island  before  the  cry 
of  "  Sail  ho ! "  arrested  every  ear.  Supposing  her  to 
be  a  large  merchantman,  we  made  towards  her ; 
but  a  nearer  approach  made  it  doubtful  whether 
she  was  an  Indiaman  or  a  man  of  war.  The  cap- 
tain judged  her  to  be  the  latter,  and  tacked  ship 
immediately.  He  was  unwilling  to  place  himself 
in  the  situation  of  an  American  privateer,  who, 
mistaking  a  seventy-four  for  a  merchantman,  ran 
his  ship  close  alongside,  and  boldly  summoned  her 
to  haul  down  her  colors.  The  captain  of  the  other 
ship  coolly  replied,  "  I  am  not  in  the  habit  of  strik- 
ing my  colors."  At  the  same  moment  the  ports 
of  his  ship  were  opened,  and  disclosed  her  long 
ranges  of  guns,  yawning  over  the  decks  of  the  priva- 
teer. Perceiving  his  mistake,  the  privateer,  with 
admirable  tact  and  good  humor,  said, "  Well,  if  you 
won't,  I  will,"  and  pulling  down  his  banting,  sur- 
rendered to  his  more  powerful  foe.     To   avoid 


^  under- 
iss  for  a 
case  we 

left  Ari- 
el of  As- 
fice  of  a 
tiled  to  a 
nd  to  the 
the  case 
t  general 

3  the  cry 
ingherto 
irds  her ; 

whether 
The  cap- 
;ked  ship 
3  himself 
3er,  who, 
;man,  ran 
loned  her 

the  other 
t  of  strik- 

the  ports 

her  long 
the  priva- 
teer, with 
ell,  if  you 
I  ting,  sur- 
lo   avoid 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


195 


such  a  mistake  as  this,  our  captain  made  all  sail 
to  escape  the  coming  stranger,  which  was  now 
bearing  down  upon  us  under  a  heavy  pressure  of 
canvass,  revealing,  as  she  gained  upon  our 
little  brig,  that  she  bore  the  formidable  character 
of  a  seventy-four  gun  ship,  under  English  colors. 

Of  course,  fighting  was  out  of  the  question.  It 
would  be  like  the  assault  of  a  dog  on  an  elephant, 
or  a  dolphin  on  a  whale.  We  therefore  crowded 
all  possible  sail,  threw  our  guns,  cables,  anchors, 
hatches,  &c.,  overboard,  to  increase  her  speed. 
But  it  soon  became  apparent  that  we  could  not 
escape.  The  wind  blew  quite  fresh,  which  gave 
our  opponent  the  advantage :  she  gained  on  us 
very  fast.  We  shifted  our  course,  in  hopes  to 
baffle  her  until  night,  when  we  felt  pretty  sure  of 
getting  out  of  her  way.  It  was  of  no  use,  she  still 
gained,  until  we  saw  ourselves  almost  within  gun- 
shot of  our  opponent. 

In  this  extremity,  the  captain  ordered  the  quar- 
termaster, George  Watson,  to  throw  the  private 
signals  overboard.  This  was  a  hard  task  for  the 
bold-hearted  fellow.  As  he  pitched  them  into  the 
sea,  he  said,  "  Good-bye,  brother  Yankee  ;"  an  ex- 
pression which,  in  spite  of  their  mortifying  situa- 
tion, forced  a  smile  from  the  lips  of  the  officers. 

The  sound  of  a  gun  now  came  booming  through 
the  air.  It  was  a  signal  for  us  to  heave  to,  or 
to  look  out  for  consequences.  What  might  have 
been,  we  learned  afterwards,  for  a  division  of  the 
crew  of  the  seventy-four  had  orders  to  sink  us  if 
we  made  the  least  show  of  resistance.     Findin"*  it 


Hff 


* 


h  I,     i 


1  i    ii^ 


I       .'' 


HI: 


I 


■m 


1 


// 


^^•^ 


«i 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   "WAR. 


197 


useless  to  proloncr  the  chase,  our  commander  re- 
luctantly ordered  the  flag  to  be  struck.  We  then 
hove  to,  and  our  foe  came  rolling  down  upon  us, 
looking  like  a  huge  avalanche  rushing  down  the 
mountain  side  to  crush  some  poor  peasant's  dwell- 
ing. Her  officers  stood  on  her  quarter  deck, 
glancing  unutterable  pride,  while  her  captain 
shouted,  "  What  brig  is  that  ?  " 

"  The  United  States  brig  Syren,"  replied  Cap- 
tain Nicholson. 

*'  This  is  his  Britannic  Majesty's  ship  Med- 
way ! "  he  answered.  "  I  claim  you  as  my  lawful 
prize." 

Boats  were  then  lowered,  the  little  brig  taken 
from  us,  and  our  crew  transferred  to  the  Medway, 
stowed  away  in  the  cable  tier,  and  put  in  messes 
of  twelve,  with  an  allowance  of  only  eight  men's 
rations  to  a  mess;  a  regulation  which  caused  us 
considerable  suffering  from  hunger.  The  sight 
of  the  marines  on  board  the  Medway  made  me 
tremble,  for  my  fancy  pointed  out  several  of  them 
as  having  formerly  belonged  to  the  Macedonian*  I 
really  feared  I  was  destined  to  speedily  swing  at  the 
yard-arm ;  it  was,  however,  a  groundless  alarm. 

This  event  happened  July  12,  1814.  Only 
eight  days  before,  we  had  celebrated  the  indepen- 
dence of  our  country,  by  dancing  and  splicing  the 
main-brace.  Now  we  had  a  fair  prospect  of  a 
rigorous  imprisonment.  Such  are  the  changes 
which  constantly  occur  under  the  rule  of  the  war- 
epirit, 

17# 


m\ 


i 


198 


A    VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN    DECK. 


Tho  Hay  snbspquont  to  our  rnnfnrc,  we  were 
marclji'd  lo  tlie  (|U!irler  tlcck  wiih  our  clolhes- 
bags,  where  we  underwent  a  strict  search.  We 
were  ordered  lo  remove  our  outside  garments  for 
this  purpose.  They  expected  to  find  us  in  pos- 
session of  large  quantities  of  gold  dust.  What 
little  our  crew  had  purchased  was  tak'3n  from 
them,  with  a  spirit  of  rapacity  altogether  beneath 
the  dignity  of  a  naval  commander. 

Our  short  allowance  was  a  source  of  much  dis- 
comfort in  this  our  prison-ship.  But,  in  the  true 
spirit  of  sailors,  we  made  even  this  a  subject  of 
coarse  jests  and  pleasant  remark.  Some  would 
sit  and  paint  the  luxuries  of  shore  life  until  our 
mouths  watered  at  the  idea  of  soft  tack,  fried 
eggs,  sausages,  and  those  other  delicacies  which 
go  to  make  up  a  sailor's  idea  of  a  sensual  para- 
dise. Others  would  discourse  about  roast  beef, 
boiled  lamb,  and  caper  sauce ;  to  which  some  old 
weather-beaten  tar  would  answer,  "  Give  me  the 
lamb  and  a  knife  and  fork,  and  I  will  cut  capers 
enough."  This  would  draw  out  peals  of  laughter, 
to  be  followed  by  various  yarns  of  feasts  gone  by, 
and  of  sprees  enjoyed  on  liberty  and  pay-days. 
Thus  we  beguiled  our  time;  though,  with  all  our 
laughing,  we  could  not  laugh  away  the  clamors  of 
our  hungry  stomachs;  and  when  I  took  my  turn 
of  a  few  minutes  on  deck,  the  gift  of  a  piece  of 
hard,  dry  biscuit,  afforded  me  more  gustatory 
delight,  than  would  the  taste  of  the  richest  pound- 
cake, now  that  I  have  an  abundance  of  food. 


SIX   YEARS   IN    A    MAN   OF   WAR. 


199 


we  were 
r  clolhes- 
•ch.  We 
ments  for 
s  in  pos- 
.  What 
k'3n  from 
r  beneath 

nuch  dis- 
i  the  true 
ubject  of 
ne  would 
until  our 
Lck,  fried 
es  which 
ual  para- 
)ast  beef, 
some  old 
e  me  the 
ut  capers 
laughter, 

gone  by, 
pay-days. 
th  all  our 
iamors  of 
:  my  turn 

piece  of 
gustatory 
St  pound- 
Dod. 


Enduring  this  evil,  we  proceeded  on  our  course. 
When  the  Medway  arrived  at  Simon's  Town, 
about  twcntj-ono  miles  from  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  we  met  the  Denmark,  seventy-four,  on  her 
way  to  England,  with  prisoners  from  Cape  Town. 
The  captain  had  hitherto  intended  to  land  us  at 
the  latter  place,  but  the  presence  of  the  Denmark 
led  him  to  change  his  purpose,  and  land  us  at 
Simon's  Town. 

The  journey  from  this  place  to  the  Cape  was 
one  of  great  suffering  to  our  crew.  We  were 
received  on  the  beach  by  a  file  of  Irish  soldiers. 
Under  their  escort  we  proceeded  seven  miles, 
through  heaps  of  burning  sand,  ooeing  nothing 
worthy  of  notice  on  the  way,  but  a  number  of  men 
busily  engaged  in  cutting  up  dead  whales  on  the 
sea-shore. 

After  resting  a  short  time,  we  recommenced 
our  march,  guarded  by  a  new  detachment  of  sol- 
diers. Unused  to  walking  as  we  were,  we  began 
to  grow  excessively  fatigued ;  and,  after  wading  a 
stream  of  conjjiderable  depth,  we  were  so  over- 
come, that  it  seemed  impossible  to  proceed  any 
%rther.  We  lay  down,  discouraged  and  wretched, 
on  the  sand.  The  guard  brought  us  some  bread, 
and  gave  half-a-pint  of  wine  to  each  man.  This 
revived  us  somewhat.  We  were  now  placed 
under  a  guard  of  dragoons.  They  were  very 
kind,  and  urged  us  to  attempt  the  remaining  seven 
miles.  To  relieve  us,  they  carried  our  clothes- 
bags  on  their  horses ;  and  overtaking  some  Dutch 


r   i 


200 


A   VOICE   FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


i 

I   V 


,i        ! 


farmers,  going  to  the  Cape  with  broom-stuff  and 
brush,  the  officer  of  the  dragoons  made  them 
carry  the  most  weary  among  us  in  their  wagons. 
It  is  not  common  for  men  to  desire  the  inside  of 
a  prison,  but  I  can  assure  my  readers  we  did  most 
heartily  wish  ourselves  there,  on  that  tedious 
journey.  At  last,  about  nine  o'clock,  P.  M.,  we 
arrived  at  Cape  Town,  having  left  one  of  our 
number  at  Wineburg,  through  exhaustion,  who 
joined  us  the  next  day.  Stiff,  sore,  and  weary, 
we  hastily  threw  ourselves  on  the  hard  boards  of 
our  prison,  wliere,  without  needing  to  be  soothed 
Of  rocked,  we  slept  profoundly  until  late  the  next 
morning.  For  a  description  of  our  prison,  with 
what  happened  to  us  there,  the  reader  is  referred 
to  the  succeeding  chapter. 


t 


I'i 

.It' 


stuff  and 
de  them 
wagons, 
nside  of 
did  most 

tedious 
.  M.,  we 

of  our 
on,  who 
i  weary, 
oards  of 
soothed 
the  next 
on,  with 
referred 


CHAPTER    X. 

Description  of  our  prison— Rules  adopted— A  petty  annoy- 
ance cured— A  lesson  given  to  a  Dutchman— Quality 
of  our  provisions — Dainties— Amusements— A  suicide 
—The  slaves  of  Cape  Town— Table  mountain  and  the 
Lion's  Rump— The  hospital— The  author  visits  it- 
Feigns  sickness— The  Trunk— The  surgeon's  passion, 
and  its  consequences— A  Dutch  wedding— A  plot— Dis- 
covery— Rumored  visit  of  a  missionary— True  feelings 
of  seamen  on  religious  subjects— Anecdote— Mr.  Thorn's 
visit— Religious  meetings— Seriousness— The  author's 
dream — A  pleasant  rumor— Presents  of  the  prisoners 
to  Mr.  Thorn- The  author's  alarm— Embarkation  on 

board    the    Cumberland — Voyage    to    St.   Helena A 

transfer — A  cause  for  great  fear — An  American  ship 

Tidings  of  the  renewal  of  the  French  war — Its  reception 
by  the  officers  and  crew  of  the  Grampus — Arrival  at  Spit- 
head — Transfer  to  the  Puissant — Anecdote — Removed 
to  the  Rover  and  conveyed  to  Plymouth — Placed  on 
board  the  Royal  Sovereign— Transferred  to  the  Wood- 
rop  Simms — Sail  for  America— A  terrible  gale — Arrival 
at  New  York— Placed  on  board  the  Tom  Bowling— The 
Syren's  crew  paid  off— Life  in  a  boarding-house- 
Good  resolutions  evaporate — r>loney  soon  expended 

The  author  ships  in  the  brig  Boxer. 

The  next  morning  wc  took  a  survey  of  our 
new  quarters.     We  found   ourselves   placed  in 


if 


f^ 


ifi 


202 


A  VOICE   FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


II 


1  -> 


r' 


'"A      >  : 


I' 


I 


-r 


a  large  yard,  surrounded,  by  high  walls,  and 
strongly  guarded  by  soldiers.  Within  this  inclos- 
ure,  there  was  a  building,  or  shed,  composed  of 
three  rooms,  neither  of  which  had  any  floor. 
Round  the  sides  stood  three  benches  or  stages, 
one  above  the  other,  to  serve  for  berths.  On 
these  we  spread  our  hammocks  and  bed-clothes, 
making  them  tolerably  comfortable  places  to  sleep 
in.  A  few  of  the  men  preferred  to  sling  their 
hammocks,  as  they  did  at  sea.  Here,  also,  we 
used  to  eat,  unless,  as  was  our  frequent  practice, 
we  did  so  in  the  open  air. 

Our  officers  had  been  sent  thirty  mile;^  inland, 
so  that  we  had  lost  the  natural  exactors  of  disci- 
pline among  seamen.  To  remedy  this  deficiency, 
our  first  step  was  to  adopt  a  set  of  regulations  in 
respect  to  order,  cleanliness,  &c.,  and  to  appoint 
certain  of  our  number  to  enforce  them. 

We  experienced  some  unpleasantness,  at  first, 
from  the  insolence  of  some  of  the  sergeants  com- 
manding the  prison  guard.  Most  of  these  petty 
oflicers  were  very  friendly  and  kind,  but  two  or 
three  of  them  manifested  a  surly,  tyrannical  tem- 
per, annoying  us  in  many  little  things,  enough  to 
embitter  our  enjoyment,  while  they  were  on  duty. 
This  petty  despotism  we  soon  cured,  by  returning 
their  abuse  in  a  rather  provoking  kind  of  coin. 
We  used  to  plague  them  by  causing  a  long  delay 
when  the  hour  arrived  for  them  to  be  relieved. 
Thsy  were  required  to  muster  us  every  morning, 
that  we  might  be  counted  before  the  new  guard 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAK. 


203 


►vails,  and 
his  inclos- 
nposed  of 
my  floor, 
or  stages, 
"ths.  On 
jd-clothes, 
^s  to  sleep 
ling  their 
also,  we 
t  practice, 

3;  inland, 
1  of  disci- 
leficiency, 
lations  in 
0  appoint 

3,  at  first, 
ants  com- 
ese  petty 
It  two  or 
lical  tem- 
jnough  to 

on  duty, 
returnincr 

of  coin. 

ng  delay 

relieved. 

morning, 

5W  guard 


took  us  in  charge.  On  those  occasions  some 
would  purposely  absent  themselves ;  others  were 
sent  to  find  the  absentees ;  these,  in  their  turn, 
would  hide  themselves,  and  require  to  be  sought 
by  others.  This  was  excessively  vexatious  to  the 
soldiers,  and  as  it  occurred  only  when  a  tyranni- 
cal sergeant  was  on  guard,  they  soon  understood 
its  meaning.  The  plan  was  successful,  and  we 
thus  got  rid  of  one  source  of  discomfort. 

Our  next  difficulty  was  with  the  old  Dutchman, 
named  Badiem,  who  furnished  our  prison  with 
provisions.  He  had  already  learned  the  difficulty 
of  cheating  a  Yankee;  for  the  Americans  who 
were  carried  away  in  the  Denmark  had  been  in 
this  same  prison,  and  had  taught  the  old  man  that 
they  were  rougher  customers  than  the  Frenchmen 
who  had  preceded  them.  We  gave  him  another 
lesson. 

He  undertook  to  wrong  us  and  benefit  himself, 
by  furnishing  a  very  inferior  article  of  bread. 
After  counselling  among  ourselves,  we  took  the 
following  plan  to  bring  him  to  his  senses. 

We  were  visited  every  day  by  a  superior  offi- 
cer, called  the  officer  of  the  day.  He  was  a  kind 
old  man,  who  had  seen  service  in  the  war  of 
the  revolution,  and  was  at  the  battle  of  Bun- 
ker Hill.  He  had  a  profound  respect  for  the 
American  character,  and  could  not  speak  of  that 
great  action  without  tears.  One  day,  a  friendly 
sergeant  being  on  duty,  we  gave  him  a  piece  of 
the  old  Dutchman's  bread,  complaining  bitterly  of 


J. 


204  A   VOICE   FROM   THE   MAIN   DECK. 


'^^' 


i  I 


its  quality.  When  the  old  officer  came  round,  as 
usual,  on  a  fine,  dashing  charger,  and  asked  his 
customary  question  of  "  All  right  ?"  our  friend  the 
sergeant  replied,  "  No,  sir  ! " 

"What  is  the  matter?"  asked  the  venerable 
old  gentleman. 

"  The  prisoners  complain  of  their  bread,  sir," 
said  the  sergeant. 

"  Let  me  sec  it,"  answered  the  general.  The 
sergeant  gave  nim  a  small  piece.  He  examined 
it,  wrapped  it  up  carefully  in  some  paper,  clapped 
the  spurs  to  his  horse,  and  rode  off.  The  next 
day,  we  had  better  bread  than  ever  before,  and  an 
order  came  for  a  man  from  each  room  to  go  with 
the  sentry  to  the  town  every  morning,  to  examine 
our  daily  provision ;  and,  if  not  what  it  should  be,  .;;'^ 
to  reject  it.  This  completely  upset  the  goldenV*' 
visions  of  the  old  Dutchman.  With  much  choler 
he  exclaimed,  "I  had  rather  have  one  tousand 
Frenchmen,  than  one  hundred  Yankees." 

We  could  not  now  complain  of  our  fare.  We 
had  an  abundance  of  beef  and  mutton,  beside  a 
full  allowance  of  bread,  &c.  The  beef,  to  be  sure, 
was  poor,  lean  stuff,  but  the  mutton  was  excellent. 
The  sheep  at  the  Cape  have  a  peculiarity,  which 
may  cause  the  reader  to  snr.ile.  They  have  enor- 
mously large,  flat  tails,  weighing  from  twelve  to 
twenty  pounds.  These  are  regularly  sold  by  the 
pound  for  purposes  of  cookery.  Should  any 
one  treat  this  statement  as  a  forecastle  yarn,  1 


SIX   YEAES   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


205 


round,  as 
Lsked  his 
riend  the 

venerable 

sad,  sir," 

il.  The 
sxamined 
,  clapped 
rhe  next 
!,  and  an 
go  with 
examine 
lould  be,  . 
5  golden'' 
'h  choler 

tousand 

I 

•e.     We 

beside  a 
be  sure, 
xcellent. 
^  which 
ve  enor- 
velve  to 
1  by  the 
lid  any 
yarn,  1 


refer  him  to  the  descriptions  of  these  sheep,  given 
by  travellers  and  naturalists.^ 

Besides  our  prison  allowance,  we  had  opportu- 
nity to  purchase  as  many  little  luxuries  and  nice- 
ties as  our  slender  finances  would  permit.     These 
were  furnished  by  a  slave,  who  was  the  property 
of  the  old  Dutchman,  and  who  was  so  far  a  favor- 
ite as  to  be  indulged  with  two  wives,  and  the 
privilege  of  selling  sundry  small  articles  to  the 
prisoners.      This  sable  polygamist  furnished  us 
with  coffee,  made  from  burnt  barley,  for  a  double- 
gee    (an   English   penny t)   per   pint;    the   same 
sum  would  purchase  a  sausage,  a  piece  of  fish,  or 
a  glass  of  rum.     On  equally  reasonable  terms,  he 
furnished  us  with  blackberries,  oranges,  &:c.     Our 
men,  who,  by  the  way,  had  eaten  fruit  in  every 
quarter  of  the  globe,  and  were  therefore  competent 
judges,  pronounced  the  latter  the  best  in  the  world. 
The  berries  afforded  me  a  rich  treafat  Christmas. 
To   obtain   means   for   the  purchase   of  these 
dainties,  our  men  braided  hatsi  wrought  at  me- 

*•  The  Barbary  sheep  entirely  resembles  the  tame  kind, 
excepting  in  the  tail,  which  is  very  much  loaded  with  fat, 
is  often  more  than  a  foot  broad,  and  weighs  upwards  of 
twenty  pounds.  Among  this  kind  of  broad-tailed  sheep, 
there  are  some  whose  tails  are  so  long  and  heavy,  that  the 
shepherds  are  obliged  to  fasten  a  smnll  board  with  wheels, 
to  support  them  as  they  walk  along.  This  tail,  which  is  a 
substance  b^etween  marrow  and  fr.,  .j  considered  a  great 
delicacy.— 5'££  System  of  Natural  History.  Boston  :  Carter, 
Hendee  4-  Co.,  1834. 

t  Twenty-four  doublegees  made  a  rix  dollar. 
18 


206 


A    VOirK    FUOM   TIIK    MAIN    DKCK. 


ohnnicul  (Mnployinciils,  or  at  .such  pursiiil.s  as  ihoir 
respective  Insles  and  eapai'ilies  siii^Ljfestcd.  Tlieso 
(XHMipations  served  to  iM'j^uiK*  our  conlimMiUMit  of 
nuu'h  of  ils  ttMliousiiess. 

Still,  w«»  had  manv  vacant,  ii.sllcss  hours.  To 
lill  ihem,  we  resorted  to  the  demoralizing:  practico 
of  i^ttuihliuo'.  A  innne  with  halls,  called  shal(t3- 
bag,  loo,  venture,  all-lours,  iVc,  occu|)i(Ml  our 
cveniuiif  hours,  and  sonietinu^s  lh(»  whole  ni,i*"hl.  It 
was  not  unconiuion  for  the  lyanie  to  he  protract(Ml 
beyond  the  niidtiiuht  hour  ol'  Saturday,  into  the 
sncrcd  moments  of  the  holy  Sahhath.  On  0!ic  of 
these  i^uilty  morninii's,  som(>  of  ns,  on  retirini*-  to 
a  slied,  found  th(»  deail  body  of  a  black  slave, 
hani^ino;  by  the  rope,  with  which,  in  a  nionuMU  of 
impardonahlt^  tb^spair,  he  had  counnitt(Ml  the  horrid 
crinio  of  suicide.  The  hour,  the  scene,  the  place, 
our  ri'cent  lyuilty  profanation  of  (Jod's  holy  day, 
conspired  to  till  many  of  us  with  ])rolbun(l  dread. 
In  my  own  mind  it  led  to  a  few  transient  ]>urposes 
of  amendment.  Alas  !  when  the  brii»ht  sun  arose, 
thci^e  purposes  had  vanished.  The  inlluence  of 
vice  triumphed.  I  i^rew  nuM*c  and  more  hardened 
in  wickedness. 

Cape  Town  contained  a  lary^e  shivc  population. 
These  poor  wretches  bad  been  extremely  deij^raded 
under  the  rule  of  the  Dutch.  It  was  said  that  their 
J  condition  bad  been  essentially  improved  since  the 
conquest  of  the  place  by  the  English.  Still,  as 
the  suicide  just  mentioned  demonstrated,  slavery 
was  a  bitter  draught.     The  British  have  done 


SIX    YKAUS    IN    A    MAN    OF    WAR. 


207 


.s  as  ihrif 

.  Til  ('SO 
iMlU'Ut  of 

urs.  To 
i:  prnclico 
(1  shnke- 
\)'uh\  our 
niolit.    It 

irolmcli'd 
,  into  ll)o 
h\  o\\{)  of 
Miriiit*-  to 
L*k  sliivo, 
onicnt  of 
\\v  horrid 
\\o.  placo, 
loly  day, 
id  dread. 
])urposes 
un  arose, 
uoiico  of 
hardened 

pulation. 
LJeii^raded 
hat  their 
since  the 
Still,  as 
,  slavery 
Lve  done 


wisrly  since  then  in  ^rni„ti„ir  froedorn  to  the 
slaves  in  nil  lli(<ir  colonies.  May  the  whole  world 
imitate  the  ludile  exmnpl(» ! 

W(^  were  snhjerted  to  frerpient  and  violefit  i,mlcs 
of   wind    while    here.      The    appronch    of   these 
storms  was  alwnys  (inthfVilly  proclainied   by  the 
monntain    that   lowered    np  hehind   ns ;   a   largo 
while  cloud,  restinjj^  on  its  snnnnit,  lila^  a  tahlc- 
clolh,  was  a  certain  indication  of  the  elemental 
wnrrMr(\     Whenever  this  phenomenon  appeared, 
our  njen  used  to  reniark,  "  Loolc  ont  for  a  blow,  the 
cloth    is    hej^inninir   to   spr<»ad."     Very   soon   the 
V(?ssels  in  the  hay  could  he  seen  strikinir  their  top- 
p:allant    masts    and    yards,  and    sometimes   even 
housinir  their  top-mnsts.      In  a  few  minutes  the 
ocean  would  irive  sij^ns  of  the  cominir  commotion  ; 
the  waves  became  crested  with  clouds  of  foam,  and 
the  spirit  of  the    storm,  was    seen   careerintr  in 
triuuiph  over  the  liqviid  nmuntains  of  the  angry 
deep. 

Besides  T;d)le  mountain,  there  was  another 
near  U,  called  the  Lion's  Rump,  from  its  similarity 
to  that  noble  animal  in  a  sitting  posture.  On  the 
summit  of  this  mountain  was  a  telegraph,  which 
informed  us,  in  common  with  the  people  of  the 
Cape,  of  the  ajjproach  of  shipping  to  the  harbor. 

At  the  town,  the  British  had  a  hospital  for  the 
accommodation  of»  their  army  and  navy.  The 
advantages  of  this  institution  were  humanely  and 
properly  offered  to  us,  whenever  we  were  sick. 
Happening  to  be  quite  unwell  one  day,  my  ship- 


m 


-■< ': 


208 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE   MAIN    DECK. 


mates  advised  me  to  go  thither.  Now,  on  board 
the  Syren,  when  in  a  similar  state,  the  surgeon 
had  administered  an  ounce  of  Gkiuber  salts.  The 
dose  caused  such  nausea,  that  from  that  time  I 
held  salts  in  profound  abhorrence.  When  the 
hospital  was  suggested  to  me,  I  associated  it  with 
the  idea  of  salts,  and,  shuddering,  remarked  that 
"  I  would  go  if  I  thought  they  would  not  give  me 
salts."  My  shipmates  all  said  they  thought  I 
should  not  have  salts  prescribed :  so,  under  the 
guard  of  a  sentry,  I  sallied  forth  to  the  hospital. 
•'  Well,  my  boy,"  said  the  doctor,  "  what 's  the 
matter  with  you  ? " 

With  many  wry  faces,  I  told  him  my  symptoms; 
when,  to  my  inconceivable  mortification  and  dis- 
gust, he  spoke  to  a  sort  of  lob-lolly  boy,  who  waited 
upon  him,  and  said,  "  Doctor  Jack  I  bring  this  boy 
six  ounces  of  salts." 

This  was  intolerable.  One  ounce  had  sickened 
me  for  months  at  the  bare  mention  of  salts,  and 
now  I  was  to  swallow  six !  It  seemed  impossible. 
The  remedy  was  worse  than  the  disease.  I  wish- 
ed myself  back  at  my  quarters.  This  was,  how- 
ever, in  vain,  unless  I  took  a  dangerous  leap  from 
the  window.  I  must  submit.  The  salts  were 
brought,  but  they  were  not  so  bad,  either  in  qual- 
ity or  quantity,  as  my  dose  in  the  Syren.  The 
reason  I  found  to  consist  in  the  fact,  that  they 
were  Epsom  instead  of  Glauber,  and  that  the  six 
ounces  included  the  weight  of  the  water  in  which 
they  were  dissolved.     So  well  was  I  pleased  with 


n  board 
surgeon 
I.     The 

time  I 
lien  the 

it  with 
:ed  that 
rive  me 
)ught  I 
der  the 
Lospital. 
it's  the 

iptoms ; 
.nd  dis- 
)  waited 
this  boy 

ickened 
Its,  and 
lossible. 
I  wish- 
.s,  how- 
ap  from 
;s  were 
in  qual- 
1.  The 
at  they 
the  six 
I  which 
ed  with 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


209 


myfisit  to  the  hospital,  and  especially  with  the 
privilege  afforded  mo  of  walking  about  the  streets 
of  Cape  Town,  that  I  afterwards  feigned  illness 
to  gain  another  admission.  I  was  willing  to  take 
the  salti  for  the  sake  of  the  liberty  of  jaunting 
about  the  streets.  Of  the  sin  of  lying  I  thought 
nothing.  I  was  a  sailor,  caring  little  for  aught 
but  present  gratification.  The  beauty  of  truth  I 
had  never  seen ;  the  hatefulness  of  a  lie  I  had 
never  learned.  Most  gratefully  do  I  acknowledge 
that  Divine  goodness,  which  has  since  effectually 
taught  me  both  the  one  and  the  other. 

At  Cape  Town  there  was  a  small  prison,  called 
"  the  Trunk."  To  this  place  those  of  our  num- 
ber, who  were  disorderly,  were  sent,  to  be  closely 
confined,  on  no  other  diet  than  bread  and  water, 
for  as  many  days  as  the  commandant  might  des- 
ignate. We  always  quietly  permitted  any  offender 
among  us  to  be  sent  thither  without  resistance  : 
but  when,  on  one  occasion,  an  attempt  was  made 
to  confine  two  of  our  shipmates  unjustly,  we  gave 
them  a  demonstration,  which  saved  us  afterwards 
from  any  similar  attempt. 

Two  of  our  men  had  hung  out  some  clothes,** 
they  had  just  washed,  in  our  yard,  near  their  own 
shed.  Now,  it  happened  that  the  doctor  to  the 
military  stationed  at  the  Cape,  had  an  entrance  to 
his  office  through  our  yard.  The  clothes  were  un- 
designedly hung  across  his  path,  compelling  him 
either  to  stoop  a  little  in  passing,  or  to  ask  their 
removal.  He  was  too  proud  to  adopt  either  of 
18=^ 


■  v-i 


m 


.JiiTftafj;  , 


210 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


these  peaceful  methods,  hut,  with  manifest  spite- 
fulness,  he  took  out  }\\s  knife  and  cut  the  line,  so 
that  the  clothes  fell  into  the  dirt.  The  owners, 
seeing  their  wet  clothing  in  this  condition,  broke 
out  into  passionate  inquiries  after  the  offender. 
"  It  was  the  English  doctor,"  replied  one  of  our 
shipmates,  who  had  witnessed  the  whole  affair. 
This  brought  forth  a  volley  of  sailors'  oaths  from 
the  offended  parties.  The  enraged  doctor  over- 
heard their  wrathful  ebullitions,  and,  without  fur- 
ther ceremony,  ordered  the  two  men  to  be  carried 
to  the  Trunk. 

Here,  then,  was  a  manifest  case  of  injustice. 
We  resolved  not  to  submit  to  it,  let  the  conse- 
quences be  w^hat  they  might.  When  the  sergeant 
came  in  for  the  doctor's  victims,  Ave  all  turned  out 
in  a  body,  declaring  we  would  all  go  to  the  Trunk 
together.  The  sergeant,  seeing  us  in  this  state  of 
rebellion,  called  out  the  whole  guard,  and  ordered 
them  to  load  and  fire  upon  us.  We  were  not 
however  so  easily  scared.  We  shouted,  "  Fire 
away !  You  will  have  but  one  fire,  and  then  it 
will  be  our  turn."  At  the  same  time  we  picked 
up  all  the  broken  glass,  sticks,  stones,  &c.,  which 
were  within  our  reach,  and  stood  waiting  for 
their  firinf  as  the  signal  for  a  general  melee. 
The  sergeant,  seeing  our  resolution,  and  wisely 
considering  that  our  superiority  in  numbers,  might 
secure  us  a  victory  over  the  handfui  composing 
his  guard,  ordered  the  soldiers  to  retire.  We 
never  heard  any  more  of  the  little  doctor's  indig- 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


211 


St  s^ite- 
line,  so 
owners, 
n,  broke 
)frender. 
e  of  our 
3  affair, 
hs  from 
or  over- 
lout  fur- 
!  carried 

njustice. 
3  consc- 
sergeant 
rned  out 
3  Trunk 
state  of 
ordered 
veve  not 
I,  "Fire 
[  then  it 
3  picked 
.,  which 
ting  for 
.  melee. 
I  wisely 
s,  might 
mposing 
e.  We 
s  indig- 


nation :  it  probably  evaporated,  like  the  moisture 
from  the  clothes  his  petty  indignation  had  thrown 
to  the  ground.  How  insignificant  such  acts 
appear,  in  men  professing  to  be  gentlemen ! 

Shortly  after  this  event,  we  were  thrown  into 
confusion  and  temporary  excitement,  by  the  ap- 
proach of  a  large  party  to  our  prison,  at  midnight, 
attended  by  a  band  of  music.  We  turned  out  and 
rushed  to  the  gate  of  our  yard.  The  guard  turned 
out  likewise,  trembling  under  the  impression  tha 
our  countrymen  had  captured  the  town  and  were 
coming  to  give  us  our  liberty.  Their  fears  and 
our  wonder  were  quieted,  however,  by  a  speedy 
discovery  of  the  true  character  of  this  midnight 
party.  It  was  a  Dutch  wedding,  coming  to  the 
house  of  the  old  Dutchman,  our  caterer;  the 
entrance  to  which  being  in  our  yard,  the  party 
had  to  pass  directly  through  our  territories ;  which 
they  did,  their  band  playing  the  tune  of  "  A  free 
and  accepted  Mason." 

Notwithstanding  we  were  in  tolerably  comforta- 
ble circumstances,  our  confinement  soon  became 
exceedingly  irksome.  We  pined  for  freedom; 
we  longed  to  get  once  more  where  the  "  old  grid- 
iron "  floated  in  fearless  triumph.  A  report  of 
the  burning  of  Washington  by  the  British  added 
not  a  little  to  our  desire.  We  began  to  talk 
of  home.  This  led  to  other  suggestions ;  these 
to  the  formation  of  plans  for  our  escape.  We 
at  length  concerted  a  measure,  which  was,  to 
break  from  the  prison  in  the  night,  disariQ  and. 


Rfei 


-r! 


^ 


•       I 


!  iri 


212 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


confine  the  p-imrd,  liolp  oursi-lvcs  to  bonts,  and 
cut  out  some  largo  sliip,  in  which  wc  might  make 
our  escape  to  America.  The  success  of  this  plot, 
however,  was  never  tested  ;  for,  reaching  the  ears 
of  the  commander,  the  guards  were  strengthened  ; 
the  light  dragoons  ordered  out  to  patrol  the  har- 
bor; and  such  other  preventive  measures  adopted, 
as  cut  off  all  hope  of  forcible  escape.  Our  only 
remedy  for  this  disappointment,  was  submission, 
and  boastings  of  what  we  would  have  done,  had 
we  got  into  the  strife  for  liberty. 

As  the  period  of  our  imprisonment  drew  towards 
a  close,  we  were  informed  that  the  Kev.  George 
Thom,  a  missionary,  was  desirous  to  come  and 
preach  to  us.  Some  of  our  men  objected,  because, 
they  said,  he  would  preoch  about  his  king,  and 
they  had  no  desire  to  hear  anything  about  kings. 
Others  said,  "Let  him  come;  we  will  hear  hTm 
with  attention,  and  if  we  don't  like  him  we  can 
afterwards  stay  away.  At  any  rate,  don't  let  us 
abuse  him ;  but  rather  show  him  that  Americans 
know  what  is  good  behavior." 

This  reply  shows  the  true  spirit  of  the  mass  of 
seamen  in  respect  to  religion;  for  though  they 
care  little  about  personal  piety,  they  will  not,  usu^ 
ally,  unless  intoxicated,  insult  a  minister.  This 
was  once  shown  in  the  experience  of  the  eccentric 
Rowland  Hill ;  when  a  mob  threatened  the  old 
gentleman  wih  niischief,  some  sailors  present 
.....v^u  iv^iivi.  i.vi,  ijiiuanjaing  vengeance  on  any 
who  dared  to  insult  the  preacher. 


SIX   YEARS    IN    A   MAN    OF   WAR. 


213 


Ills,  and 
ht  rnuke 
his  plot, 
the  ears 
thened ; 
the  har- 
idopted, 
ur  only 
mission, 
►ne,  liad 

towards 
George 
me  and 
because, 
ng,  and 
kings. 
!ar  him 
we  can 
t  let  us 
lericans 

nass  of 
h  they 
3t,  usv  • 
This 
icentric 
he  old 
present 
on  any 


Accordingly,  we  sent  our  respects  to  Mr.  Thon, 
inviting  him  to  favor  us  with  a  visit.  We  then 
cleaned  and  fitted  up  one  ruom  with  benches. 
The  following  Sabbath  he  came.  His  preaching 
was  earnest,  simple  and  interesting.  Instead  of 
discoursing  about  kings,  as  some  had  predicted, 
the  only  king  about  whom  he  preached,  was  the 
King  oi  heaven.  \Vc  invited  him  to  come  again. 
He  accepted  the  invitation,  and  our  meetings 
soon  began  to  be  profitable  and  interesting.  We 
had  singing,  for  several  of  our  men  were  tolerable 
singers,  and  they  were  aided  by  the  presence  of 
some  pious  soldiers  from  the  garrison,  and  occa- 
sionally by  Mrs.  Thom,  the  amiable  lady  of  our 
excellent  pireacher.  Our  officers,  too,  frequently 
came  from  their  residence,  and  were  pleased  to 
see  the  good  order  and  happiness  apparent  on 
these  occasions.  I  assure  my  readers,  that  the 
most  delightful  moments  of  our  imprisonment 
were  those  we  spent  in  singing  some  sweet  hymn, 
in  the  good  old-fashioned  tunes  of  Bridgewater, 
Russia,  Wells,  &c. 

Among  the  texts  used  by  Mr.  Thom,  I  remem- 
ber the  following :  "  Turn  ye  to  the  strong-hold, 
ye  prisoners  of  hope ;"  Zech.  ix.  12.  *'  Behold,  I 
stand  at  the  door  and  knock,"  &c.  ;  Rev.  iii.  20. 
"  And  yet  there  is  room  ;"  Luke  xiv.  22.  It  was 
really  pleasing  to  hear  the  various  remarks  made 
by  our  men,  after  listening  to  faithful  discourses 
iiviii  liiccc  aiiu  oiiixiiar  mxia.  Une  wouiu  remark, 
"  He  liit  me  a  clew."    To  this  another  would  re- 


m 


.«« 


214 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN    DECK. 


ply,  "He  shot  away  my  colors."  A  third  would 
add,  "He  shot  away  my  rig-rring;"  while  a  fourth 
would  say,  "He  gave  mo  a  shot;"  and  a  fifth, 
"  He  gave  me  a  broadside."  Thus,  in  their  rough 
way,  did  they  express  the  impressions  made  on 
their  minds  by  the  discourse. 

Mr.  Thorn  was  a  fiiithful  servant  of  his  Mas- 
ter, the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.     He  did  not  rest  satis- 
fied with  these  public  efforts,  but,  during  the  week, 
he  visited  us  for  the  purpose  of  serious  conversa- 
tion.    Several   of  us  were   really  under   strong 
conviction,  and  would  confess,  at  these  inquiry 
meetings,  and  to  each  other  as  we  paced  the  yard, 
how  often  we  had  sinned,  even  cursing  our  Ma- 
ker when  on  the  yard  at  night,  amid  the  roaring 
of  the  storm,  the  bellowing  of  the  thunder,  and  the 
angry  flashing  of  the  lightning.     A  happy  practi- 
cal  effect  followed.     Gambling  ceased,  cards  and 
shake-bag    lost    their    charms.      The    time    was 
spent  in  reading  useful  books.     Bibles  and  reli- 
gious books  were  given  or  loaned  to  us.     Among 
these  were  Baxter's  Call,  Doddridge's  Rise  and 
Progress  of  Religion,  &c.    To  some  extent  we  were 
altered   men.     Had  we   remained   much   longer 
under  these   gracious  influences,  most  of  us,   I 
think,  would  have  become  experimental   Chris- 
tians.    As  it  was,  the  seed  was  not  wholly  wasted. 
Impressions  were  made,  which,  no  doubt,  have, 
in   many  cases,   yielded   rich   fruit   long  before 
this. 

My  own  mind  was  strongly  wrought  upon.     A 


SIX    YEARS    IN    A   MAN    OF   WAR. 


215 


lird  would 
le  a  fourth 
id  a  fifth, 
leir  rough 
made  on 

his  Mas- 
rest  satis- 
the  week, 
conversa- 
er   strong 
B  inquiry 
the  yard, 
our  Ma- 
e  roaring 
r,  and  the 
py  practi- 
;ards  and 
ime    was 
and  reli- 
Among 
Rise  and 
t  we  were 
li   longer 
of  us,   I 
1   Chris- 
J  wasted, 
bt,  have, 
2^  before 

pon.     A 


singular  dream  added  to  my  seriousness.     In  my 
dream,  I  saw  myself  drowning,  while  a  fierce- 
looking  soldier  was  pointing  his  loaded  musket  at 
my  head.     Thus   death  threatened  me  from  two 
sources.     In  this  extremity  my  anguish  was  very 
great.     All  my  gracious  opportunities  passed  be- 
fore me,  but  now  it  seemed  too  late  for  salvation. 
"Oh,"   thought  I  in  my  sleep,  "what  would   I 
give,  if  this  were  only  a  dream  !     How  faithfully 
would  I  serve  the  Lord  when  I  awoke."     Just  at 
that  moment  I  did  a\vake,  scarcely  able  to  convince 
myself  that  the  ideal  scene  was  not  an  awful  real- 
ity.    That  day  I  eagerly  sought  the  missionary, 
and  sat  with  serious  delight  listening  to  his  in- 
structions.    Still  I  did  not  give  myself  up  to  the 
service  of  Christ.     So  difficult  was  it  for  me  to 
make  the  requisite  sacrifice  of  my  beloved  sins. 

Just  at  this  interesting  crisis,  a  glad  report  of 
peace  between  England  and  America  reached  our 
prison.  With  joyful  faces. we  assembled  round 
the  good  man,  when  he  came  that  day,  to  inquire 
if  it  was  really  so.  While  he  assured  us  of  its 
truth,  he  i/>ildly  asked  ^'  if  it  was  peace  with  Hea- 
ven;" assuring  us  that  it  was  a  matter  of  the 
greatest  importance  for  us  to  be  at  peace  with 
God. 

Aj  a  memento  of  our  esteem  for  Mr.  Thorn,  we 
made  him  several  little  presents.  One  of  them 
was  a  hat  made  from  a  bullock's  horn.  The  horn 
was  peeled  into  narrow  slips,  these  were  scraped, 
split,  and  braided  like  straw,  and  then  sewed  to- 


sm 


216 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


f 


*-1 


gether.  We  also  made  him  a  model  of  a  ship, 
fully  rigged  from  stem  to  stern.  The  missionary 
received  these  marks  of  our  regard  with  evident 
pleasure  ;  and,  no  doubt,  when  looking  upon  them 
afterwards,  offered  many  a  prayer  for  the  salvation 
of  the  prisoners,  who  were,  for  many  weeks,  the 
subjects  of  his  anxiety  and  labors.  Blessings  rest 
on  him,  if  he  yet  lives  !  Peace  to  his  ashes,  if  he 
slumbers  among  the  dead  ! 

Great  was  the  joy  of  my  companions,  when  the 
news  reached  us  that  we  were  to  embark  shortly, 
in  the  Cumberland,  ceventy-four,  for  England. 
Little  was  now  said  or  done,  except  what  related 
to  our  departure.  With  strange,  yet  common  per- 
versity of  conduct,  serious  matters  were  laid  aside 
for  the  one  absorbing  thought,  "  We  shall  soon  be 
free  !  "  Thus,  an  event  which  should  have  given 
birth  to  gratitude  and  religious  service,  only  served 
for  an  occasion  of  further  neglect  and  unthank- 
fulness.  How  strangely  wicked  is  the  human 
heart ! 

For  myself,  the  tidings  filled  me  with  fear. 
Directly  to  America  I  would  Have  gladly  gone ; 
but  to  be  carried  to  England,  in  one  of  her  ships 
of  war,  was  like  going  to  certain  death.  How 
was  it  possible  for  me  to  escape  detection  ?  How 
could  I  avoid  meeting  with  some  old  Macedo- 
nians, who  would,  of  course,  recognise  and  betray 
me  ?  These  questions  had  resolved  me  to  volun- 
teer to  remain  at  the  Cape,  a  short  time  before,  when 
some  of  our  number  were  sent  to  England.    Now, 


;k. 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


217 


1  of  a  ship, 
missionary 
ith  evident 
■  upon  them 
he  salvation 
Aveeks,  the 
essings  rest 
ashes,  if  he 

s,  when  the 
ark  shortly, 
•  England, 
^hat  related 
)mmon  per- 
e  laid  aside 
lall  soon  be 
have  given 
only  served 
d  unthank- 
the   human 

with  fear, 
adly  gone ; 
f  her  ships 
ath.  How 
ion  ?  How 
d  Macedo- 
and  betray 
e  to  volun- 
efore,  when 
,nd.    Now, 


they  tortured  me  beyond  endurance.  I  felt  like 
an  escaped  criminal  with  the  officers  of  justice  at 
his  heels.  Death  at  the  yard-arm  haunted  me  day 
and  night,  like  the  fancied  ghost  of  a  murdered 
man,  staring  ghastly  at  the  window  of  his  mur- 
derer. No  one  can  imagine  my  uneasiness,  unless 
he  has  been  placed  in  a  similar  situation.  I  made 
many  promises  to  God  that  if  he  would  carry  me 
in  safety  to  America,  I  would  cease  to  be  a 
swearer,  and  would  most  punctually  attend  his 
house  every  Sabbath.  These  things  constituted 
my  highest  ideas  of  human  duty  at  that  time ; 
but  even  these  promises,  like  those  made  during 
the  heat  of  the  battle  in  the  Macedonian,  were 
made  to  be  broken. 

After  a  little  delay,  we  were  conveyed  on  board 
the  Cumberland,  where  we  soon  heard  the  well- 
known  summons  of  "  All  hands  up  anchor,  ahoy  ! " 
A  cloud  of  canvass  dropped  from  her  gigantic 
yards ;  the  sportive  breeze  came  obedient  to  our 
wish ;  and  the  huge  form  of  the  Cumberland,  ac- 
companied by  a  large  convoy  of  merchant  vessels, 
was  borne  rapidly  along  upon  the  yielding  waves. 
Cape  Town,  Table  Mountain,  the  Lion's  Rump, 
and  our  prison-yard,  were  soon  left  far  behind, 
leaving  no  traces  of  their  existence  on  the  distant 
horizon ;  they  were  to  be  known  to  us  hereafter 
only  among  the  images  of  the  brain — as  recollec- 
tions, not  as  realities.  We  had  spent  eight 
months  in  the  prison  of  Cape  Town. 

Our  treatment  iu  this  ship  was  superior  to  what 
19 


218 


A    VOICE    FROM    THE    MAIN    DECK. 


we  received  in  the  Meclway.  Instead  of  the 
cable  tier,  we  had  berths  on  the  upper  gun  deck, 
and  our  allowance  of  food  was  sufficient  for  our 
wants. 

Arriving  at  St.  Helena,  we  remained  a  few 
days  in  port.  This  rough,  rock-bound  island 
had  not  yet  received  its  future  prisoner,  the  em- 
peror of  France.  Here  we  were  removed  from 
the  Cumberland.  Twenty-four  of  us  were  sent 
on  board  the  Grampus,  of  fifty  guns,  the  rest 
were  sent  home  in  our  old  conqueror,  the  Med- 
way ;  my  lot  being  cast  among  the  former. 

This  transfer  to  the  Grampus  greatly  alarmed 
me ;  since  the  more  men  I  saw,  the  greater,  of 
course,  was  my  chance  of  detection.  I  had  already 
escaped  being  known  on  board  of  two  seventy- 
fours  ;  but  I  could  not  promise  myself  the  same 
impunity  much  longer.  However,  as  I  saw  no 
one  whose  face  was  familiar,  when  I  w^ent  on 
board,  I  felt  a  little  more  easy.  But  that  night,  I 
had  occasion  for  great  trepidation  and  alarm. 
About  nine  o'clock,  I  heard  the  order  from  an 
officer,  of  "Pass  the  word  for  the  boy  Leech." 
This  was  followed  by  several  voices  hallooino-, 
"  Boy  Leech  !  boy  Leech  ! "  My  heart  beat  like 
a  trip-hammer  against  my  bosom,  and  a  cold 
sweat  crept  over  my  whole  body.  My  shipmates 
said  they  meant  me  ;  but  I  would  not  reply.  After 
a  few  moments,  I  breathed  more  freely,  and  the 
le^x  -^i  a^avii  pacacu  uvvay.  i  neara  some  one 
saying,  "  Your  master  wants  you ;"  which  con. 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


219 


d  of  the 
jiin  deck, 
It  for  our 

id  a  few 
id  island 

the  em- 
ved  from 
veve  sent 

the  rest 
the  Med- 
3r. 

alarmed 
eater,  of 
d  already 

seventy- 
:he  same 
.  saw  no 
went  on 
t  night,  I 
i  alarm, 
from  an 

Leech." 
allooing, 
beat  like 
I  a  cold 
bipmates 
r.  After 
and  the 
wne  one 
ich  con- 


vinced me  that  there  was  a  "boy  Leech"  among 
the  crew  of  the  Grampus,  as  well  as  another  boy 
Leech  among  the  American  prisoners. 

On  our  passage,  we  made  a  strange  sail.  Com- 
ing up  to  her,  to  our  infinite  satisfaction  we  beheld 
the  stars  and  stripes  at  her  mast-head.  "  Brother 
Jonathan  has  come  to  town,"  said  one  of  our 
men.  "He  is  a  most  welcome  visitor,"  the  rest 
replied;  for  indeed  "the  old  gridiron"  never 
looked  so  pleasant  as  it  did  then.  This  meeting 
confirmed  us  in  the  report  of  peace  between  the 
two  nations.  This  was  as  gratifvinor  to  the  crew 
of  the  Grampus  as  to  us ;  for  they  had  recently 
heard  that  the  war  with  France  was  ended,  and 
they  were  all  hoping  to  get  discharged.  This 
expectation  was  defeated,  however,  by  intelligence 
from  some  passing  ship,  that  Napoleon  was  at 
Paris  again,  v/ith  a  force  of  sixty  thousand  men. 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  joy  of  the  officers, 
and  the  vexation  of  the  crew,  at  this  piece  of 
information.  The  former  dreaded  a  peace,  be- 
cause it  would  place  many  of  them  on  half-pay ; 
while  the  chances  of  war  inspired  them  with 
hopes  of  promotion;  hence  they  ran  alongside 
almost  every  ship  in  the  fleet,  shouting,  "  Have 
you  heard  the  news  ?  Bonaparte  has  got  to  Paris 
with  sixty  thousand  men!"  Really,  some  of 
them  seemed  crazy  with  joy  at  the  idea  of  pro- 
tracted war.  Not  so,  however,  the  seamen ;  they 
longed  for  peace,  since  war  only  brought  them 
hard  usage,  wounds  and  death.    While,  therefore, 


220 


A   VOICE   FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


I 


4  ' 


# 


the  officers  were  rejoicing,  they  were  muttering 
curses  and  oaths,  wishing  Bonaparte  and  his 
army  at  perdition.  Nor  was  it  strange  that  they 
felt  thus  ;  for  the  discipline  on  board  the  Grampus 
was  excessively  severe.  They  were  constantly 
flogging  in  the  most  harsh  and  cruel  manner. 
The  Syrens  were  astonished  at  what  they  saw  ; 
for,  on  board  our  brig,  we  seldom  saw  more  than 
a  dozen  lashes  inflicted  at  one  time,  and  that  not 
very  often. 

At  last  we  came  in  sight  of  the  white  cliffs  of 
old  England.  To  avoid  suspicion,  I  appeared 
much  interested  in  everything  I  saw  on  the  coast, 
and  asked  the  men  all  those  questions  which  are 
natural  to  a  stranger,  when  he  sees  a  new  coun- 
try for  the  first  time.  These  inquiries  they 
answered  with  the  utmost  good  humor;  for  an 
Englishman  is  proud  of  his  country,  notwith- 
standing he  may  find  hard  usage  from  her  hands. 

My  American  friends  have  frequently  asked  if 
my  language  diu  not  excite  suspicion  that  I  was 
English.  It  never  did  to  my  knowledge ;  indeed, 
so  free  was  I  from  English  provincialisms,  that  it 
was  often  remarked  to  me,  that  I  "needed  no 
protection ;"  meaning,  that  I  should  be  taken  for 
a  Yankee,  without  offering  proof. 

With  all  this  in  my  favor,  I  could  not  behold 
myself  approaching  my  native  soil,  without  many 
misgivings.  To  a  man  who  knows  a  halter  is 
hanging  over  his  head,  everything  furnishes  cause 
for  alarm ;  a  piercing  look,  a  whisper,   or   the 


SIX   YEARS    LN    A   MAN    OF    WAR. 


221 


Tiuttering 

and   his 

that  they 

Grampus 

onstantly 

manner. 

ley  saw; 

lore  than 

that  not 

cliffs  of 
appeared 
:he  coast, 
hich  are 
3W  Conn- 
ies they 
;  for  an 
notwith- 
jr  hands, 
asked  if 
lat  I  was 
;  indeed, 
s,  that  it 
eded  no 
aken  for 

t  behold 
ut  many 
iialter  is 
es  cause 
or   the 


sudden  mention  of  his  name,  is  a  cause  of  dis- 
quietude, su/ilcient  to  stir  his  inmost  soul.  Cap- 
tain Nicholson  gave  me  no  little  uneasiness,  by 
sending  for  me  one  day,  just  before  we  arrived  in 
port,  to  make  some  inquiries  about  Mr.  Crownin- 
shield,  of  Salem,  Mass.  Luckily,  I  could  say  I 
had  seen  him ;  beyond  that,  I  could  give  no  fur- 
ther information.  He  supposed  me  to  be  a  native 
of  Salem,  while  I  was  quaking,  through  a  fearful 
expectation  of  being  found  nearly  as  ignorant  of 
that  city,  as  I  had  been,  on  another  occasion,  of 
the  city  of  Philadelphia. 

At  length  we  reached  Spithead,  and  were 
removed  to  an  old  prison-ship,  called  the  Puissant, 
which  had  once  belonged  to  the  French.  Here 
we  were  treated  with  great  lenity ;  we  were  even 
allowed  liberty  to  go  on  shore.  Had  I  dared,  I 
wouH  have  run  away ;  the  dread  of  the  halter 
restr  aed  me  !  I  did  not  even  venture  to  write, 
lest  my  mother  should  be  tempted  to  visit  me,  or 
even  to  write ;  since  even  a  letter  from  any  place 
in  England,  might  awaken  suspicion  concerning 
my  true  character. 

An  instance  of  maternal  imprudence  was  said 
to  have  occurred  in  this  port  on  board  another 
ship.  A  poor  woman  went  on  board  and  inquired 
for  her  son,  who  had  run  from  the  British  service, 
and  was  then  among  the  captive  crew  of  an 
American  prize.  They  told  her  there  was  no 
one  of  that  name  among  the  crew.  "He  is 
among  the  Yankees,"  said  she.     Hearing  this. 


Im 


Ipl 


222 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN    DECK. 


jij 


the  prisoners  were  called  up,  and  the  poor,  aflfec- 
tionato,  but  ill-jiulgiri!:''  mother,  singled  out  her 
son,  and  embracing  him,  said,  "  I  have  brought 
you  a  clean  shirt ! " 

The  lieutenant,  who  stood  by  them,  stepped  up, 
remarking  to  the  thunder-stricken  man,  "  It 's  a 
clean  shirt  you  want,  is  it  ?  I  will  give  you  a 
clean  handkerchief" — meaning  that  he  would  be 
hung.  The  unhappy  youth  was  accordingly 
ironed,  in  presence  of  the  astounded  mother,  who 
now  beheld  herself  the  unintentional  murderess 
of  her  son.  A  court-martial  was  held,  and  the 
brutal  prediction  of  the  lieutenant  verified. 

After  a  stay  of  several  weeks  in  the  old  Puis- 
sant, orders  came  for  our  transfer  to  the  Rover,  a 
gun-brig,  which  had  orders  to  carry  us  to  Ply- 
mouth. Here  was  a  double  risk  again  before  me. 
I  had  to  risk  being  known  by  the  crew  of  the 
Rover,  and  by  the  many  persons  who  had  known 
me  at  Plymouth.  However,  the  good  hand  of 
Providence  was  with  me  to  preserve  me.  We 
reached  our  port  in  safety,  where,  to  our  great 
delight,  we  heard  that  the  Woodrop  Simms,  of 
Philadelphia,  was  to  be  the  cartel  to  convey  us  to 
America. 

Before  we  were  allowed  to  tread  her  decks; 
however,  we  had  to  spend  two  or  three  days  on 
board  the  Royal  Sovereign,  of  one  hundred  and 
ten  guns,  because  the  Woodrop  Simms  was  not 
quite  ready  to  receive  us.  Here  I  was  exposed 
to  the  gaze  of  eight  hundred  men ;  but  none  of 


* 


SIX   YEAns    IN    A   MAN    OF   WAR. 


223 


)r,  aflfec- 
out  her 
brought 

pped  up, 
"  It 's  a 
c  you  a 
rould  be 
ordingly 
icr,  who 
urderess 
and  the 

• 

Id  Puis- 
Rover,  a 
to  Ply- 
fore  me. 
V  of  the 
1  known 
liand  of 
e.  We 
ar  great 
Tims,  of 
ey  us  to 

r  decks, 
days  on 
[red  and 
was  not 
exposed 
none  of 


them  knew  me.  Indeed,  this  was  irly  most  haz- 
ardous situation  ;  for  the  Sovercii^u  and  Macedo- 
nian had  sailed  in  company  before  the  capture  of 
the  hitter.  Whent^ver  any  of  her  men  came  near 
our  quarters,  I  endeavored  to  h)ok  cross-eyed,  or 
closed  one  eye  so  as  to  appear  partially  blind  ;  and 
in  various  other  ways  altered  my  appearance,  so 
that  even  an  old  shipmate  would  have  been  puz- 
zled to  recognise  m(;  at  first. 

At  last,  the  grateful  news  reached  us  that  the 
cartel  was  ready.  We  went  on  board  with  great 
gaiety,  where  we  met  our  shipmates  who  had  left 
the  Cape  before  us.  They  had  been  confined  in 
the  celebrated  Dartmouth  prison,  with  a  number 
of  other  prisoners,  where  they  had  met  with  rather 
rough  treatment  and  rougher  fare.  They  were 
present  at  what  they  called  the  Massacre.  Sev- 
eral of  the  prisoners  were  detected  in  an  efTort  to 
escape.  To  strike  terror  into  the  poor  victims, 
Captain  Shortland  ordered  his  men  to  fire  in  upon 
them.  Quite  a  number  were  killed,  and  more 
wounded,  by  this  cold-blooded  act;  the  rest  sought 
the  sheftter  of  the  prison  walls.  Several  Ameri- 
cans suffered  in  this  wanton  assault.  Our  meet- 
ing at  this  juncture  was  a  source  of  mutual 
gratulation. 

Our  ship  was  now  surrounded  with  boats  con- 
taining provisions  of  all  descriptions.  To  our 
surprise,  the  Dartmouth  men  bought  freely  of 
everything.  Where  they  obtained  their  money, 
we  could  not  imagine.     We  learned  afterwards 


M 


S24 


A   VOICE    FUOM   Tin:    MAIN    DECK. 


tlint  thoir  stock  oonsislnl  of  co\mlorfoit  coins, 
rnauuructunul  by  iho  prisoiu^rs  I  It  was  well  for 
tluMii  that  our  ship  ])ut  to  sea  Ix^forc  John  Hull's 
peace  ollicers  received  infonnalioii  of  liie  fraud. 
What  a  school  for  every  species  of  vice  is  opened 
by  war!  The  corruptions  aiul  vice,  occasioned 
by  the  operatimi  of  this  system,  are  beyond  the 
power  of  the  inui<;ination  to  conceive. 

J\ly  feeliniifs  were  peculiar  as  1  hehelil  my 
native  land  recedini;  from  my  vision.  I  was 
happy,  and  yet  sad.  Happy,  because  I  was  now 
safe;  sad,  because  1  was  ao:ain  leavii.j}^  the  soil 
which  lield  my  mother  and  my  friends.  On  the 
whole,  my  joyous  feelinf;s  prevailed. 

A  few  days  out,  we  were  hailed  by  an  Entrlish 
frigate.  She  sent  a  boat  alonpfside  to  make  some 
in(|uiries,  and  left  us  to  pursue  our  way  in  peace. 
We  were  all  in  i>ood  spirits ;  our  men  being 
divided  into  watches  to  assist  the  crew  of  the 
ship ;  our  ofhcers  all  snui^^ly  quartered  in  the 
cabin,  and  myself  appointed  to  assist  the  steward; 
an  oflice  quite  agreeable  to  one  who  had  lived  on 
prisoners'  fare  more  than  a  ycar,"^  because  it 
brouoht  me  a  few  of  the  spare  luxuries  from  the 
othcers'  table. 

One  morning,  shortly  after  the  English  frigate 
had  boarded  us,  Captain  Nicholson  asked  me 
something  about  Salem.     I  smiled.     He  inquired 


•a.  tTr_ 


"  wc  wcrc  cupturGu  juIj  x-,}  lui 


1815. 


% 


SIX   VKARS    IN    A   MAN   OP   WAR. 


225 


it     COIMfl, 

well  for 
in  Hull's 
10  IVinul. 
ks  opoucd 
•ousionrd 
yond  the 

held   my 

I  uas 

was  now 

;•  iho  soil 

On  the 

1  English 
akc  some 
in  peace, 
en  being 
w  of  the 
d   in  the 

steward ; 
[  lived  on 
ecause    it 

from  the 

sh  frigate 
Lsked  me 
)  inquired 


why  I  lantrhed.  "  Sir,"  said  I,  *'  Salem  is  not  my 
Tialiv(«  pla('(»  hy  considerahh?." 

"What  do  you  mean?"  asked  the  captain, 
lookinir  somewhat  puzzled  at  my  manner  of  treat- 
ing the  subject. 

1  (hen  unfolded  the  secn^t  of  my  having  been  ono 
of  the  crew  captured  in  the  Mactedonian.  They 
seemed  amazed  at  th(^  risks  I  had  encountered 
since  the  capture  of  the  Syren,  and  congratulated 
me  very  warmly  on  my  really  hair-breadth  escape 
from  the  halter.  It  was  a  fortunato  escape  in- 
deed, for  which  I  can  never  be  sufficiently  thank- 
ful to  that  All-seeing  Eye,  that  watched  for  my 
safety  in  the  moment  of  pcjril. 

During  this  voyage,  a  great  deal  was  said 
about  quitting  tlie  seas  and  settling  down  in  qui- 
etness ashore.  One  of  our  shipmates,  named 
William  Carpenter,  who  belonged  to  Rhode  Island, 
had  a  particular  enthusiasm  in  favor  of  farming. 
He  promised  to  take  me  with  him,  where  I  could 
learn  the  art  of  cultivating  the  soil.  Many  of  us 
made  strong  resolutions  to  embark  in  some  such 
enterprise.  The  pleasures  of  agriculture  were 
sung  and  praised  among  us  in  so  ardent  a  man- 
ner, that  he  must  have  been  incredulous  indeed, 
who  could  have  doubted,  for  a  moment,  the  cer- 
tainty of  quite  a  number  of  our  hands  becoming 
farmers,  whenever  we  should  gain  the  land. 

One  night  we  lay  in  our  hammocks,  talking 
Witix  great  earnestness  about  our  favorite  theme, 
the  wind  blowing  quite  freshly  on  deck.      Said 


226 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN    DECK. 


one,  *'  If  I  ever  ^ot  homo,  you  won't  catch  me  on 
board  of  a   ship  ati^aiii."     "  Yos,"  said  another; 
•'  farmers  live  well,  at  any  rate.     They  are  not 
put  on  allowance,  but  have  enouu:h  to  eat :  if  they 
work  hard  all  day,  they  can  turn  in  at  night ;  and 
if  it  blows  hard,  the  house  won't  rock  much,  and 
there  's  no  sails  to  reef."     While  this  and  similar 
conversation  was  goin^  on,  the  wind  was  blowing 
harder  and  harder :  from  occasional  heavy  puffs, 
it  at  last  grew  to  be  a  tremendous  gale.     Hearing 
so  much  wind,  though  there  were  hands  enough 
on  deck  to  manage  the  ship,  some  of  us  got  up  to 
assist  if  we  were  needed.     It  was  now  blowing 
most  fearfully ;  the  wild  howling  and  whistling 
among  the  rigging,  the  wilder  roar  of  the  angry 
sea,  the  hallooing  of  the  captain,  and  the  impene- 
trable darkness  which  lent  its  horrors  to  the  scene, 
Avere  appalling  even  to  a  sailor's  breast.     Just  as 
I  stepped  upon  deck  she  shipped  o.  heavy  sea, 
which  drenched  me  to  the  skin.     Presently,  we 
heard  the  crash  of  falling:  timbers,  and  away  went 
a  top-mast,  and  a  yard  in  the  slings.     There  were 
now  so  many  men  on  deck  that  we  were  in  each 
other's  way ;  some  of  us  went  beljjfv  and  turned 
in,  with  the  full  expectation  that  our  ship  would 
founder  before  morning ;  and  thinking  it  would  be 
as  well  to  go  down  in  our  hammocks  as  on  deck. 

While  this  state  of  gloomy  foreboding  contin- 
ued, some  of  my  shipmates  manifested  great 
alnrm  nhmit  eternitv.  Thov  nraved  aloud,  in 
deep  distress.     Others  only  cursed,  and  said,  as  if 


h  me  on 
mother ; 

are  not 
:  if  they 
i^ht ;  and 
uch,  and 
[I  similar 

blowing 
vy  puffs, 

Hearing 
I  enough 
jTot  up  to 

blowing 
;vhistling 
16  angry 

impene- 
hc  scene, 
Just  as 
!avy  sea, 
sntly,  we 
vay  went 
lere  were 
i  in  each 
d  turned 
lip  would 
would  be 
)n  deck, 
g  contin- 
ed  great 
aloud,  in 
>aid,  as  if 


SIX    YEARS    IN    A    MAN    OF   WAR. 


227 


I 


in  bravado,  "  We  arc  all  going  to  hell  together." 
For  my  own  part,  I  kc])t  repeating  the  Lord's 
prayer,  and  renewing  those  promises  so  often 
made  in  the  moment  of  apparent  destruction. 

At  length  the  day  dawned,  revealing  the  sad 
havoc  made  by  the  wind,  of  our  masts  and  rig- 
ging.     We  also  saw  a  number  of  those  dwellers 
on  the   ocean,  called   Mother   Carey's    chickens. 
Our  shattered  aspect  reminded  me  of  the  Macedo- 
nian after  the  battle,  excepting  that  we  had  no 
wounded  and  dead  about  us  now.    Captain  Jones, 
who  had  not  left  the  deck  a  moment  during  the 
night,  declared  that,  though  he  had  been  twenty- 
five  years  at  sea,  he  had  never  witnessed  such  a 
gale  before.     Our  ship  was  nearly  new,  and  an 
excellent  sea-boat,  or  she  would  have  shared  the 
fate  of  many  a  ship  in  that  terrible  gale.     As  the 
wind  abated  with   the  approach   of  day,  we  re- 
paired our  damages  and  proceeded  on  our  voyage, 
frequently  passing  vessels  which  had  suffered°as 
severely  as  ourselve.^.     This  gale  was  on  the  9th 
and  10th  days  of  August,  1815.     Probably  many, 
both  sailors  and  landsmen,  will  recollect  this  and 
the  September  gale  of  that  year,  which  occasioned 
such  destruction  of  life  and  shipping. 

Sailors  are  superstitious.  Our  men  attributed 
this  mishap  to  the  presence  of  some  Jonah  in  the 
ship.  The  man  they  pitched  upon,  as  the  proba- 
ble offender,  was  an  old  sea-captain,  who  had  been 
cast  awav  several  times.  Thnt  ho  haA  Ar^r.^  c.«,^^ 
fearful  deed,  was   a  matter  of  undoubted   truth 


228 


A    VOICE    FROM    THE    MAIN    DECK. 


among  them;  but  not  being  so  resolute  as  the 
mariners  of  Tarshisli,  they  did  not  cast  him  into 
the  sea  ;  neither  did  this  liberality  on  their  part 
cost  us  our  lives,  for;  after  several  day^  of  pleasant 
weather,  we  one  morning  found  ourselves  safely 
anchored  at  the  quarantine  ground,  near  the  city 
of  New  York. 

The  crew  of  the  Syren  having  obtained  leave 
to  go  on  shore,  full  of  my  good  purposes  to  lead 
a  steady  life  on  the  land,  I  hurried  directly  to 
Broadway,  to  inquire  for  my  former  employer,  the 
kind-hearted  boot-maker.  To  my  disappointment, 
he  had  gone  to  Philadelphia ;  so  that  I  returned 
on  board,  somewhat  chagrined  at  the  failure  of  my 
plan. 

The  next  morning  we  were  conveyed,  in  a  large 
sail-boat,  on  board  the  Tom  Bowling,  an  her- 
maphrodite brig.  Here  I  was  congratulated  by 
the  old  quartermaster,  Lewis  Deal,  who  was  with 
me  when  we  narrowly  escaped  capture  at  the 
mouth  of  Salem  harbor,  while  on  a  fishing  excur- 
sion. He  said  he  had  felt  much  anxiety  for  my 
safety  all  the  voyage,  especially  as  it  was  reported 
that  my  former  captain  had  made  strict  search  for 
the  Macedonians  among  all  the  American  prison- 
ers who  were  carried  to  England.  The  kind- 
hearted  old  man  wept  tears  of  gladness  at  my  safe 
return. 

While  we  staid  in  the  Tom  Bowling,  the  Sep- 
tember gale,  mentioned  above,  took  place.  We 
were  right  glad,  as  it  broke  its  fury  over  our  an- 


SIX  YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


229 


3  as  the 
iiim  into 
leir  part 
pleasant 
?s  safely 
'  the  city 

ed  leave 
;  to  lead 
rectly  to 
oyer,  the 
)intment, 
returned 
ire  of  my 

n  a  large 
an  her- 
ilated  by 
was  with 
e  at  the 
ig  excur- 
:y  for  my 
!  reported 
learch  for 
n  prison- 
he  kind- 
,t  my  safe 

the  Sep- 
ice.  We 
r  our  an- 


chorage in  vain,  to  think  we  were  so  safely  housed 
in  a  good  harbor,  instead  of  being  exposed  to  its 
wrath  on  the  deep.  Many  a  brave  heart  perished 
in  that  memorable  storm. 

The  two  years  having  expired  for  which  we 
shipped,  we  were  paid  off.  With  the  sum  of  one 
hundred  dollars,  I  hurried  on  shore  and  deposited 
my  funds  in  the  hands  of  my  landlord,  at  a  sailor's 
boarding-house.  Now  followed  a  life  of  dissipa- 
tion and  folly.  The  grave  resolutions,  passed  at 
sea,  to  settle  down  as  steady  farmers,  vanished 
into  air.  Drinking,  swearing,  gambling,  going  to 
the  theatre,  and  other  kindred  vices,  took  up  all  our 
time  as  long  as  our  money  lasted.  Our  religious 
vows  were  equally  slighted  and  forgotten :  instead 
of  being  better,  we  became  worse  than  ever.  We 
felt  as  if  New  York  belonged  to  us,  and  that  we 
were  really  the  happiest,  jolliest  fellows  in  the 
world. 

For  my  own  part,  I  fell  deeper  into  wickedness 
than  ever  before  :  drinking,  swearing,  and  gam- 
bling as  I  had  never  done  on  any  former  occasion. 
How  could  it  be  otherwise  ?  Who  cared  for  the 
sailor  then  ?  Not  one.  He  was  left  to  his  own  de- 
praved heart's  promptings.  Bethels  and  religious 
boarding-houses  did  not  then  throw  their  genial 
influences  round  his  path,  to  charm  his  footsteps  to 
the  shrines  of  virtue  and  religion.  Near  the  very 
spot  where  the  bethel  church  now  stands  in  New 
York,  I  have  frequently  gambled  for  hours,  with  a 
bottle  of  spirits  on  the  table,  uncaring  and  uncared 
20 


230 


A    VOICE    FROM    THE    MAIN    DECK. 


for  by  any  human  being.  Thrice  blessed  be  the 
man  who  first  established  bethels  and  temperance 
boardini^-houses  !  They  are  the  sailor's  life-boats, 
which  snatch  him  from  the  gory  jaws  of  the  un- 
principled landsharks  who  fatten  on  his  ruin. 

Sometimes,  in  a  sober  moment,  I  thought  I 
would  break  away  from  this  wicked  mode  of  life. 
I  even  engaged  myself  to  a  boot-n;aker,  to  com- 
plete my  knowledge  of  his  business  ;  but  the  dread 
of  the  confinement  to  the  shoe-bench,  which  my 
riotous  fancy  painted  as  being  worse  than  a  prison, 
;  drove  me  from  my  purpose,  and  left  me  still  among 
my  shipmates. 

At  last  my  landlord  told  me  my  money  was 
all  expended,  and  that  I  must  look  out  for  some- 
thing to  do.  My  shipmates  were  in  a  similar  di- 
lemma, their  number  decreasing  every  day,  as  one 
after  another  shipped  in  the  various  merchant  ves- 
sels preparing  for  sea.  Alas  !  for  our  farmers  in 
perspective  !  Their  dreams  of  ploughing  the  land 
evaporated,  leaving  them  what  they  were  before, 
and  what  most  of  them  remained  until  death,  the 
ploughmen  of  the  ocean.  My  landlord's  gentle  hint 
put  a  stop  to  my  excesses,  for  the  very  sufficient 
reason  that  it  was  attended  with  a  protest  on  my 
further  checks  for  funds.  For  a  while,  I  found 
employment  in  loading  and  unloading  ships,  and 
in  assisting  to  fit  them  for  sea.  But  this  proving 
an  uncertain  employment,  I  w^as  induced  to  join  a 
number  of  my  fellow-boarders  in  going  to  the  ren- 
dezvous of  the  United  States  brig  Boxer.     Here 


SIX   YEAKS   IN   A   MAN   OF  WAR, 


231 


;ed  be  the 
jmperance 
life-boats, 
of  the  un- 
ruin. 

thought  I 
de  of  life, 
r,  to  com- 
;  the  dread 
which  my 
n  a  prison, 
till  among 

loney  was 
for  some- 
similar  di- 
lay,  as  one 
•chant  ves- 
fn  rmers  in 
g  the  land 
ire  before, 
death,  the 
Tentle  hint 
r  sufficient 
:est  on  my 
J,  I  found 
ships,  and 
is  proving 
d  to  join  a 
to  the  ren- 
er.    Here 


we  shipped  for  two  years  more.  I  was  then 
eighteen  years  of  age,  and  was  rated  as  an  or- 
dinary seaman,  with  ten  dollars  per  month  wages. 
Behold  me  then,  dear  reader,  once  more  on  board 
a  man  of  war,  in  spite  of  all  the  dangers  I  had 
escaped,  and  the  promises  I  had  made  to  risk 
myself  no  more  on  the  ocean !  The  next  chapter 
will  unfold  the  events  which  transpired  while  I 
sailed  in  the  Boxer. 


♦ 


% 


# 


0 


CHAPTER    XI. 


It 


I 


Landsharks — rurscr's  tricks — The  Boxer — Desertions — A 
man  killed — Captain  Purler — Hardships — A  blow  on 
the  head — Sailinji]^  orders — The  sailinfi^-master — Tyran- 
nical oflicers — Flopjjifingby  the  olficers — Arrival  at  Ship 
Island — Getting  water — Mosehetos  and  p^allinippers — 
Passage  to  New  Orleans — A  man  brutally  flogged — A 
passionate  blow — The  Boxer  hauled  up — Desertions — 
Flogging — Return  to  Ship  Island — Work  on  Captain 
Porter's  land — A  murder — Passage  to  Tampico — Turtle 
^*  — Privateers— An  attack — The   privateer   hauls   off— 

^^yp  Boxer  cruises  to  various  ports — The  unlucky  hand- 
^|ke— Danger  to  seamen  on  the  look-out — Sea-sick- 
ness— More  running  away — My  own  feelings — Capture 
ot-  the  Comet,  a  privateer — Tom  Smith,  his  philosophy 
and  punishment — Character  of  our  crew — Need  of 
Christian  labor  among  seamen — A  plan  suggested. 

On  shipping  in  the   Boxer,  I  received  three 

months'  advance,  which,  excepting"  a  small  sum 

expended  for  clothing,  fell  into  the  hands  of  my 

rapacious  landlord.     How  much  this  gentleman 

contrived  to  filch  from  me,  it  is  not  in  my  power 

to  say;  but  that  he  was   well  paid,  I  have  no 

doubt.     He  had  my  hundred  dollars,  my  advance, 

all  I  earned  for  working  on  the  wharves,  and  nine 

dollarsJ)eside,  which  I  obtained  from  the  purser. 

All  tiw  according  to  his  account,  I  spent  in  a 

.11 


f8T 


with  the  exception  of 


sum  laid  out  for  clothing.     As  I  had  no  means 


sertions — A 
■A  blow  on 
tcr — Tyran- 
ival  at  Ship 
llinippers — 

flof^^cd — A 
)esertions — 
on  Captain 
>ico — Turtle 
hauls  off — 
lucky  hand- 
L — Sea-sick- 
!;s — Capture 

philosophy 
—Need  of 
^gested. 

ved  three 
mall  sum 
ids  of  my 
Gentleman 
my  power 
have  no 
r  advance, 
,  and  nine 
le  purser, 
pent  in  a 

eT'tr    omnll 
X  y    oiixaii. 

no  means 


SIX   YEARS    IN    A   MAN    OF   WAR. 


233 


of  proving  his  statements  false,  there  was  no 
alternative  but  submission,  and  a  return  to  a  life 
of  toil  and  damper,  to  earn  a  fresh  supply. 

As  the  method  by  which  I  obtained   the  nine 
dollars,^above   mentioned,  from   the   purser,   will 
exhibit  one  of  the  modes   in  which  seamen   are 
sometimes  cheated,   1  will   relate   it.     While   in 
the  Syren  I  drew  but  half  my  allowance  of  grog-. 
By  the  rules  of  the  snrvice,  I  could  claim  the  bal- 
ance  in   money.      This  I   overlooked  when  we 
were  paid  off,   but,  when  my  funds  got  low,  it 
came  into  my  mind.     I  proposed  to  some  of  the 
boys,  who  had  a  similar  claim,  to  visit  the  purser. 
They  only  laughed  at  me,  and  said  it  would  be 
of  no  use,  for  he  would  not  pay  it  now  we  were 
discharged.     Finding  they  would  not  join  me,  I 
went  alone  to  the  City  Hotel,  where  the  purser 
boarded,  and  inquired  for  him  of  the  bar-tender. 
He  came  down  stairs,  and  I  spread  out  my  com- 
plaint before  him.     He  blustered  and  said  I  had 
no  such  claim  allowed ;  I  insisted,  and  told  him 
it  was  my  right,  and  he  must  pay  it.     Hoping  to 
get  rid  of  me,  he  told  me  to  call  again  the  next 
day.     This  I  did,  when  he  paid  me  nine  dollars. 
This  will  show  the  reader  one  of  the  ways  in 
which  poor  Jack  is  plundered,  and  that  too  by 

GENTLEMEN  ! 

The  Boxer  lay  at  the  navy  yard,  whither  we 

were  conducted.     The  vacillation  of  a  seaman's 

Ciiaracter  was  illustrated  before  we  got  on  board, 

by  one   of  our   hands  running  away:   another 

2^^ 


■•f  ■ 


234 


A    VOICE    FROM  THE    MAIN   DECK. 


went  a  little  beyond  the  first.  He  went  on  board, 
where  he  pretended  to  lose  his  hat  overboard. 
Begging  permission  to  recover  it,  he  seized  the 
rope  which  fastened  the  boat  to  the  shore,  dropped 
over  the  stern  into  the  boat,  and  pushing  up  to  the 
wharf,  leaped  ashore  and  made  off'.  SucTi  fickle- 
mindedness  is  not  uncommon  ai..         sailors. 

We  lost  another  of  our  crew  in  «  more  melan- 
choly manner ;  he  was  in  my  mess,  an  English- 
man by  birth,  who  had  just  left  a  British  vessel 
to  enter  the  American  service.  He  was  at  work 
on  the  main  yard,  and  by  some  means  or  other, 
losing  his  foothold,  he  fell.  Unfortunately,  he 
struck  a  carronade  screw  in  his  descent,  which 
inflicted  a  terrible  "  jund.  The  poor  man  suf- 
fered excruciating  agonies  for  a  short  time,  and 
died.  We  buried  him  on  shore,  in  a  plain  coffin, 
without  form  or  ceremony.  Such  are  the  con- 
tingencies which  wait  to  hurry  seamen  to  the 
grave ! 

We  were  kept  busily  at  work  upon  the  brig  for 
some  time;  after  which  our  commander,  Captain 
Porter,  came  on  board.  We  soon  found  him  to 
belong  rather  to  the  race  of  Fitzroys  and  Gardens, 
than  to  that  of  Decaturs,  Parkers  or  Nicholsons. 
He  was  inclined  to  tyranny  and  severe  disci- 
pline. 

He  soon  gave  us  a  specimen  of  his  character  in 
a  most  illegal  act  of  punishment.  We  lay  along- 
Siuc  tuG  xxornct  or  Peacock,  I  lorget  wniCii.  It 
happened  that  her  captain  and  most  of  her  officers 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


235 


t  on  board, 
overboard, 
seized  tbe 
e,  dropped 
^  up  to  the 
urTi  fickle ' 
lilors. 
ire  melan- 
i  English- 
ish  vessel 
IS  at  work 
3  or  other, 
nately,  he 
snt,  which 
man  suf- 
time,  and 
lain  coffin, 
}  the  con- 
en   to  the 

he  brig  for 
!r,  Captain 
nd  him  to 
d  Gardens, 
ucholsons. 
/ere   disci- 

haracter  in 
lay  along- 


VVIllUii. 


fi. 

Xi. 


ler  officers 


were  gone  ashore  one  day.  Our  captain  acci- 
dentally saw  one  of  her  men  engaged  in  some  act 
of  misconduct:  instead  of  entering  a  complaint 
against  the  man  to  his  own  officers,  he  ordered 
him  to^be  seized  up  and  severely  flogged,  notwith- 
standing the  earnest  entreaties  of  the  offender  for 
pardon.  Why  the  captain  of  that  vessel  did  not 
call  Captain  Porter  to  an  account  for  this  manifest 
invasion  of  his  prerogatives,  I  never  knew,  for  we 
put  to  sea  shortly  afterwards.  An  officer  who 
would  thus  gratuitously  volunteer  his  services  to 
punish  a  man,  must  be  a  tyrant  at  heart.  So  at 
least  we  thought ;  while  many  misgivings,  con- 
cerning the  future,  troubled  our  minds. 

As  I  was  now  rated  an  ordinary  seaman,  and 
not  a  boy,  as  heretofore,  I  had  a  station  assigned 
me  in  the  fore-top,  instead  of  being  a  servant  to 
any  of  the  officers.  I  was  also  appointed  to  be 
one  of  the  crew  of  the  captain's  gig.  This  made 
my  lot  one  of  more  fatigue  and  exposure  than  in 
any  former  voyage ;  a  proof  of  which,  I  very  soon 
experienced.  It  being  now  late  in  the  fall,  the 
weather  became  very  cold.  One  afternoon,  the 
pennant  having  got  foul  of  the  royal  mast,  an 
officer  ordered  me  to  go  up  and  clear  it.  I  had 
no  mittens  on ;  it  took  me  some  time  to  perform 
my  task,  and  before  I  came  down  one  of  my  fin- 
gers was  frozen.  Thus  it  is,  however,  with  the 
poor  tar ;  and  he  thinks  himself  happy  to  escape 

iiiij   vitxii^^jo    vTilii   ilijUiicO    OU    DllgnL   Uo    ifllS. 

The  disposition  of  our  commanding  officer  was 


\  r 


236 


A    VOICE    FROM    THE    MAIN    DECK. 


Still  furtlier  rcvralcMl  to  iny  discomfort  one  day, 
while  we  were  at  work  on  the  cahles.  Some- 
thing I  did,  not  liappening  to  suit  him,  he  gave 
me  a  severe  blow  on  the  head  with  his  list,  not 
far  from  the  place  where  I  had  been  previously 
injured  by  the  malice  of  the  Malay  boyl*  This 
unmanly  blow  occasioned  me  violent  pains  for 
several  days. 

Since  that  time,  I  have  felt  a  peculiar  hostility 
to  a  practice,  which  is  lamentably  common  in 
some  schools  and  flimilies ;  I  mean  that  of  rap- 
ping children  on  the  head  with  a  thimble,  or  with 
the  knuckles,  or  anything  else.  The  practice  is 
the  result  of:  irrational  passion,  it  is  dangerous,  and 
cannot  therefore  l)e  too  severely  reprobated.  If  it 
is  pleaded  as  necessary  to  enforce  obedience  and 
ensure  respect,  I  know  it  will  fail  of  such  effects ; 
it  will  only  excite  feelings  of  revenge,  ill-will  and 
malice. 

We  now  received  sailing  orders,  and  were  very 
soon  under  weigh,  bound  to  the  Balize  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Mississippi.  On  this  passage  we 
had  further  opportunities  of  learning  the  character 
of  our  officers.  Although  Captain  Porter  was 
stern  and  severe,  yet  he  never  used  bad  language. 
He  always  spoke  with  the  utmost  deliberation, 
but  with  such  obvious  indications  of  feeling,  that 
we  often  trembled  to  hear  his  voice.  Most  of  the 
other  officers  were  by  no  means  novitiates  in  the 
art  of  swearing;  but  our  sailing-master  exceeded 
all  the  rest  in  this  diabolical  habit.     Whenever  it 


t  one  day, 
!S.  Sonie- 
1,  he  gave 
lis  iist,  not 
previously 
)oy!*  This 
pains   for 

.r  hostility 
amnion  in 
lat  of  rap- 
Ic,  or  with 
practice  is 
crous,  and 
ted.  If  it 
ience  and 
ch  effects ; 
U-will  and 

were  very 
ze  at  the 
issage  we 

character 
orter  was 
language, 
liberation, 
Bling,  that 
'ost  of  the 
tes  in  the 

exceeded 
lenever  it 


SIX  YEARS   IN  A   MAN   OF  WAR. 


237 


was  his  watch  on  deck,  he  exercised  his  voice,  and 
practised  the  use  of  his  choice  and  varied  vocabu- 
lary of  oaths,  by  hallooing  and  threatening  the 
men  continually.  Whenever  wo  had  to  set  on 
sail,  or^to  reef,  he  was  especially  diligent  in  these 
matters ;  mingling  with  his  curses,  threats  of  the 
lash  to  those  who  were  tardy,  or  whose  move- 
ments did  not  exactly  suit  his  taste.  If  such  offi- 
cers could  only  apprehend  the  profound  contempt 
and  bitter  hatred  with  which  they  are  regarded  by 
their  maddened  crew,  they  would  both  tremble  for 
their  safety,  and  despise  their  own  littleness  of 
soul.  No  really  great  man  would  enact  the  child- 
ish vagaries  of  a  petty  tyrant. 

There  was  one  respect  in  which  we  were  more 
annoyed  in  the  Boxer  than  I  had  been  in  the 
Macedonian.  In  this  latter  ship,  none  but  the 
captain  could  order  a  man  to  be  flogged ;  in  the 
Boxer,  the  lieutenant  or  the  officer  of  the  watch 
could  send  a  man  to  the  gangway,  and  order  the 
boatswain  to  lay  on  with  a  rope's-end.  This  is  a 
liberty  which  the  laws  of  the  navy  should  prohibit. 
A  man  should  be  secured  the  rights  of  a  citizen, 
as  well  on  the  planks  as  on  the  soil  of  his  country. 
True,  it  may  be  said,  severity  of  discipline  is 
necessary  to  good  order  in  a  ship.  Not  severity, 
but  strictness,  is  what  is  wanted.  Let  a  strict  dis- 
cipline be  enforced,  with  pleasant  looks,  and  a 
"  Hurrah  my  lads,  bear  a  hand  ! "  and  obedience 
will  be  mnrp!  nrnrnnf  nnfl  mpra  ^p^f^pt  fl^-,^  ,,.i — , 

every  order  is  accompanied  with  a  "  Damn  you," 


'J 


w 


238 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN    DFCK. 


> 


I      '.'J 


I 


and  with  an  exhibition  of  the  rope's-end  or  cat-o'- 
ninc-tails.  Common  sense,  as  well  as  experience, 
will  sustain  this  opinion. 

While  these  matters  were   passing  on  board, 
our  little  bri<^  was  dashing  through  the  waves  in 
fine  style.    We  arrived  at  the  Balize,  from  whence 
we  dropped  down  to  Ship  Island,  where  we  took 
in  water.     A  share  of  this  severe  task  fell  to  my 
lot,  for  I  was  here  taken  out  of  the  gig,  and  placed 
in  the  jolly-boat,  to  make  way  for  a  smaller  and 
lighter   lad   in   the   former.      We    obtained   our 
water  by  digging  large  holes  in  the  sand,  into 
which  we  placed  our  casks;  the  salt  water,  by 
passing   through    so    much   sand,   would  be   so 
thoroughly  filtrated,  that  by  the  time  it  reached 
our  casks  it  was  fit  for  use.      We  then  emptied  it 
into  ten-gallon   kegs,  called  breakers,  which  we 
carried  on  our  shoulders  to  the  boat.     This  of 
itself  was  hard  work,  but  we  had  certa'n  torment- 
ors on  this  island,  which  made  it  a  task  of  much 
sufTering.     These  were  hosts  of  hungry,  gigantic 
moschetos,  which  assailed  our  persons,  and  es- 
pecially our  naked  feet,  in  flying  squadrons,  with 
a  ferocity  that  indicated  an  uncontrollable  thirst 
for  biood.     But  even  these  were  not  our  worst 
persecutors.     They  were  attended  by  armies  of 
large,  yellow  horse-flies,  which  our  meii  called 
gallinippers.       These    merciless    insect    savages 
w  ere  always  sure  to  attack  the  very  spot  we  had 
rubbed  sore,  after  the  bite  of  a  moscheto.     Their 
bite  felt  like  the  thrust  of  a  small  sword ;  I  still 


SIX    YEARS    IN    A    MAN    OF    WAR. 


239 


or  cat-o'- 
xperience, 

on  board, 
;  waves  in 
in  whence 
:e  we  took 
fell  to  my 
and  placed 
nailer  and 
ained   our 
sand,  into 
water,  by 
Lild  be   so 
it  reached 
emptied  it 
which  we 
This  of 
n  torment- 
K:  of  much 
y,  gigantic 
IS,  and  es- 
Irons,  with 
able  thirst 
our  worst 
armies  of 
neii  called 
;t    savages 
pot  we  had 
to.     Their 
)rd;  I  still 


re'ain  scars  on  my  feet  occasioned  by  these  fierce 
gallinippers. 

This  island  bore  marks  of  the  battle  of  Orleans  ; 
for  we  found  various  articles  bearing  the  broad 
arrow  and  stamped  G.  R.  We  also  remarked 
several  mounds,  which  had  the  appearance  of 
being  large  jraves.  We  afterwards  learned  that 
this  was  the  place  where  the  British  brought  their 
dead,  after  their  unsuccessful  attack  on  the  city  of 
New  Orleans. 

From  Ship  Island,  we  proceeded  to  New  Or- 
leans. This  was  a  laborious  passage;  the  cur- 
rent ran  down  the  river  with  iimazing  force,  bear- 
ing huge  logs  on  its  bosom,  which,  if  suffered  to 
strike  either  our  bows  or  cables,  were  capable  of 
doing  much  damage :  to  avoid  them  required  no 
trifling  exertions.  Sometimes  we  endeavored  to 
truck  her,  or  draw  her  along  with  ropes,  as  canal- 
boats  are  drawn  by  horses.  But,  as  this  brought 
us  into  shallow  water,  it  was  abandoned. 

The  banks  of  the  river  displayed  large  numbers 
of  alligators,  luxuriating  on  tne  numerous  logs 
that  Vv'ere  fast  in  the  mud.  We  made  many 
attempts  to  get  near  enough  to  these  scaly  mon- 
sters to  pierce  them  with  a  boat-hook ;  but  they 
kept  too  sharp  a  look-out  for  us  ;  invariably  diving 
into  the  stream  before  our  boat  got  near  enough 
for  us  to  strike  them.  But,  if  we  failed  in  captur- 
ing alligators,  we  obtained  an  abundance  of  palm- 
leaf,  from  the  shore,  with  which  we  furnished 
ourselves  with  hats. 


i 


r 

r?" 

1 

240 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


An  instance  of  our  commandor's  tyranny  occur- 
red while  we  were  ascendiiiiTf  the  river.  He  had 
requested  a  seaman,  named  Daily,  who  was  some- 
what acquainted  with  the  river,  to  act  as  pilot. 
By  accident  or  neq-ligence,  he  su fibred  ihe  brig  to 
strike  the  bottom,  though  without  llie  least  injury. 
The  captain  flew  into  a  passion,  ordered  him  to 
the  gangway,  and  commanded  thci  boatswain's 
mate  to  lay  ou  with  his  rope's-end.  I  did  not 
witness  this  flogging,  for  the  hands  were  not 
called  up  to  witness,  punishment,  unless  adminis- 
tered by  the  cat-o '-nine-tails,  but  one  of  my  mess- 
mates said  that  he  received  at  least  one  hundred 
lashes.  I  saw  him  several  days  afterwards,  with 
his  back  looking  as  if  it  had  been  roasted,  and  he 
unable  to  stand  upright.  He  wore  the  same  shirt 
in  which  he  was  flogged  for  some  time  afterwards. 
It  was  torn  to  rags,  and  showed  the  state  of  his 
back  beneath.  His  object  in  wearing  it  was  to 
mortify  and  shame  the  captain  for  his  brutality. 

The  severity  of  flogging  with  the  rope's-end  is 
justly  described  in  Mr.  Dana's  excellent  book, 
called  "  Two  Years  before  the  Mast."  Though 
not  so  cruel  as  the  cat,  it  is  nevertheless  a  harsh, 
degrading  punishment.  Our  men  used  to  say  that 
"  they  would  as  lief  be  cut  up  on  the  bare  back 
with  the  cat,  as  have  back  and  shirt  cut  up 
together,  as  was  poor  Daily's.  In  truth,  that  flog- 
ging was  both  unjust  and  illegal.  The  articles 
of  war  provide,  that  not  more  than  twelve  lashes 
shall  be  given  for  a  crime  j  but  here  one  hu?idred 


8IX  YEARS   IN  A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


241 


iny  occur- 
He  had 

was  some- 
;  as  pilot, 
he  brig  to 
ist  injury. 
?d  him  to 
Datswaiii's 
I  did  not 
weit  not 
I  a.dminis- 
my  rness- 
e  hundred 
ards,  with 
?d,  and  he 
same  shirt 
ftervvards. 
ate  of  his 
it  was  to 
rutality. 
)e's-end  is 
[ent  book, 
Though 
s  a  harsh, 
;o  say  that 
bare  back 
:t  cut  up 
that  flog- 
tie  articles 
he  lashes 
e  hu7idred 


were  inflicted  for  no  crime — for  an  accident,  which 
might  have  happened  to  the  best  pilot  who  ever 
ascended  the  Mississippi.  But  though  the  captain 
was  thus  rendered  amenable  to  the  law,  who 
would  believe  a  poor  sailor  ?  Had  he  complained, 
it  would  doubtless  have  been  to  his  own  injury  ; 
for  law,  and  especially  naval  law,  is  always  on 
the  side  of  the  strong.  This  was  not  the  only 
case  of  illegal  flogging;  but  the  justification  of 
these  excessive  whippings,  was  found  in  the  pre- 
tended existence  of  several  crimes  in  the  helpless 
offenders. 

On  one  occasion  we  were  at  our  quarters,  exer- 
cising in  the  various  evolutions  of  war ;  now  at 
our  guns,  and  then  going  through  the  forms  of 
boarding  an  enemy ;  now  running  aloft,  as  if  in 
the  act  of  cutting  down  our  enemy's  rigging,  and 
then  rushing  below,  as  if  to  board  her,  firing  our 
pistols,  stabbing  with  our  boarding-pikes,  and  cut- 
ting on  all  sides  with  our  cutlasses.     In  the  midst 
of  this  excitement,  the  movements  of  one  of  the 
men  not  happening  to  please  the  captain,  he  seized 
a  cutlass  and  struck  him  a  tremendous  blow  with 
its  flat  side ;  heated  with  passion,  he  let  it  glance 
as  he  struck,  and  the  edge,  entering  the  man's 
back,  made  a  deep  flesh  wound,  which  was  very 
sore  a  long  time.     Some  of  our  men  swore  that  if 
they  had  been  the  sufferer,  they  would  have  shot 
the  captain  dead  on  the  spot !     Are  men  of  such 
brutal  temnprs  fit  in  rnmrr\ar\A  a  rrso«  nf  ■«Tro^9      T~ 

it  not  wonderful  that  mutiny  is  so  rare  under  such 
21 


i 


iii' 

pi  I 

m 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 

a  discipline  ?  Such  an  officer  might  do  to  com- 
mand a  ^TC'W  of  pirates,  but  not  of  freemen,  such 
as  Americans  feel  proud  to  entrust  with  the  keep- 
ing of  their  national  honor  on  the  deep. 

On  reaching  New  Orleans,  our  ship  was  over- 
hauled and  repaired.  We  were  sent  on  board  the 
Louisiana,  an  old  guard-ship,  but  had  to  cross  the 
river  every  morning  to  assist  in  working  on  the 
brig.  Several  of  our  men,  and  myself  among 
them,  were  quite  sick  here,  owing  to  the  free  use 
of  river  water.  The  Louisiana  had  a  number  of 
men  confined  on  board,  for  some  crime ;  they 
wore  chains  round  their  legs,  which  were  fastened 
to  a  large  ball :  the  nature  of  their  offence  J.  did 
not  ascertain. 

The  effects  of  Captain  Porter's  severity  were 
seen  here  in  the  loss  of  tw^o  of  the  crew.  They 
belonged  to  the  gig,  and  ran  away  while  he  was 
on  shore.  He  made  a  strict,  but  unsuccessful, 
search  after  them.  To  deter  others  from  a  like 
attempt,  or  because  he  wanted  an  object  on  which 
to  wreak  his  vengeance,  he  gave  one  poor  fellow 
a  cruel  flogging  for  what,  in  sober  fact,  was  no 
offence  at  all.  The  man  was  on  shore,  with  some 
others,  fixing  the  rigging,  and,  for  some  purpose 
or  other,  had  w^alked  a  short  distance  from  the 
rest,  without  the  slightest  intention  to  run  away. 
But  the  captain  wanted  a  victim,  and  this  served 
for  an  excuse. 

'  '  *■     fe       v^iiit.      Jii  xilf-^livl' VI  ,      T  T  V-'    A  V- t  vii  ix^— ■  VI.    v/ir     v."vrs,ix  Vl  J 

and  were  soon  back  at  our  old  station  off  Ship 


SIX  YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


243 


0  to  com- 
nen,  such 
the  keep- 

vas  over- 
board the 
cross  the 
ig  on  the 
If  among 
}  free  use 
umber  of 
ne ;  they 

1  fastened 
nee  J.  did 

rity  were 
T.  They 
e  he  was 
iiccessful, 
m  a  like 
on  which 
tor  fellow 
;,  was  no 
dth  some 
1  purpose 
from  the 
an  away, 
is  served 


off  Ship 


Island,  where  we  found  several  other  small  naval 
craft.  While  here  I  saw  a  man. flogged  through 
the  fleet,  or,  as  this  might  more  properly  be  called, 
the  squadron.  His  was  the  only  instance  of  the 
kind  I  saw  while  in  the  American  navy,  and, 
although  his  back  was  most  brutally  mangled, 
yet  I  do  not  think  he  suffered  equal  to  those  who 
are  flogged  through  an  English  fleet.  Still,  the 
indignity  and  brutality  are  the  same  in  kind^ 
though  differing  in  degree  :  a  man  should  never 
be  made  to  endure  it. 

Not  far  from  our  station,  at  a  place  called  St. 
Lewis'  Bay,  our  captain  purchased  some  land,  and 
actually  sent  some  of  our  men  to  make  a  clear- 
ing upon  it,  and  to  erect  a  log  house.  Whether 
this  was  a  legal  employment  of  the  strength  and 
skill  of  his  men  or  not,  I  cannot  decide ;  but  it 
struck  me  as  being  a  perversion  of  the  national 
resources  to  his  own  private  benefit.  Why  should 
a  captain  of  a  ship  of  war  be  permitted  to  employ 
the  time  and  energies  of  his  men  for  private  uses, 
while  an  officer  of  the  government,  who  should 
employ  its  funds  for  his  own  advantage,  would  be 
charged  with  embezzlement  and  fraud  ?  The  cases 
are  precisely  alike,  except  that  one  uses  the  public 
money,  the  other  what  costs  that  money.  It  is  a 
fraud  on  the  country,  and  an  imposition  on  the 
men. 

A  tragic  event  occurred  at  Lewis'  Bay  on  the 
4th  of  July,  which  occasioned  a  fearful  sensation 
throughout  the  ship.     I  was  sent  thither  that  day 


iiK: 


^m 


f'- 


I 


S44 


A   VOICE   FROM   THE   MAIN   DECK. 


in  tho  launch.    Feeling  fntipfucd,  I  remained  with 
another  in  tho  boat,  which  was  nncliored  near  tho 
shore.     After  some  time  ono  of  the  crew,  named 
Thomas  Hill,  came  back  for  a  pistol,  for  there 
were  several  in  tho  boat,  and  deliberately  charged 
it.     My  companion,  an  old   Macedonian,  named 
Cox,  asked  him  what  he  wanted  with  a  pistol. 
Hill,  who  was  a  very  desperate  fellow,  told  him 
to  mind  his  own  business,  or  he  would  shoot  him. 
Cox,  knowing  his  character,  thought  it  best  to  let 
this  insult  pass,  supposing  he  was  only  going  off 
to  shoot  a  dog  or  snake,  as  the  latter  creature 
abounded  there.     Having  loaded  his  pistol,  Hill 
went  olf,  and  we  thought  no  more  of  the  matter. 
Presently  a  man  came  running  down  to  the  boat 
to  inform  us  that  two  of  our  men  were  quarrelling. 
Just  at  that  moment,  we  heard  the  report  of  a  pis- 
tol :  hurrying  to  the  spot,  described  by  our  inform- 
ant, we  found  a  shipmate,  by  the  name  of  Smith, 
bleeding  on  the  ground,  with  a  pistol-shot  lodged 
in  his  breast  by  Hill.     We  gathered  round  him  ; 
in  his  agony  he  begged  us  *o  shoot  him  dead,  for 
his  suffering  was  not  to  be  endured.     Supposing 
he  was  dying,  our  testimony  to  his  statement  that 
Hill  was  his  murderer,  was  taken  on  the  spot. 
The  victim  was  then  removed  to  a  suitable  place 
to  be  taken  care  of;  the  next  day  he  was  carried 
on  board  the  brig,  and  from  thence  to  a  sort  of 
hospital  on  shore,  where,  after  lingering  a  few 


Uttj-C,      iiC      UiCU. 


The  nrarderer  w^as   seized  and 


placed  in  irons  on  board  t^e  brig.     He  was  after- 


SIX    YEAKS    IN    A    MAN    OF    WAR. 


245 


lined  with 
i  near  the 
w,  named 

for  there 
y  charged 
in,  named 

a  pistol. 

told  him 
hoot  him. 
best  to  let 
going  off 
•  creature 
istol,  Hill 
e  matter. 

the  boat 
arrelling. 
t  of  a  pis- 
ir  inform- 
of  Smith, 
LOt  lodged 
ind  him ; 

dead,  for 
Supposing 
ment  that 
the  spot, 
ble  place 
IS  carried 
a  sort  of 
ig  a  few 
ized  and 
vras  after- 


wards romovod   to   anothnr   ship,  but  what  was 
done  willi  him  1  nover  heard  with  certainty;  i 
was  reporlod  that  hf3  was  pardonnd. 

Th«3  cause  of  this  fatal  affray  was  that  great 
insliirator  of  crimes.  Rum.  The  men  were  both 
under  its  iriflueuco;  lirod  willi  its  fumes,  they  lost 
all  disrrclion,  and  couunenced  a  quarrel :  from 
words  they  proc.cHMlcd  to  bh)ws.  In  this  struggle 
Smith  had  the  advantage.  Finding  himself 
worsted,  the  other  ran  down  to  the  boat  for  a 
pistol.  With  this,  he  returned  and  threatened  to 
shoot  his  adversary.  Smith  demanded  a  pistol 
for  himself,  that,  as  he  said,  he  might  have  fair 
play.  At  that  instant  his  cowardly  opponent  shot 
him !  Had  they  both  been  sober,  this  tragedy 
would  never  have  been  enacted.  Who  can  reveal 
the  ellects  of  alcohol  ? 

From  this  station  we  sailed  to  Tampico,  where 
we  lay  but  a  short  time,  meeting  with  nothing 
worthy  of  remark,  except  that  we  found  abundance 
of  turtle  in  the  river  ;  during  the  day  we  could 
see  their  heads  peeping  up  from  the  river  in  all 
directions.  At  night  we  used  to  send  our  men 
ashore  to  take  them.  This  was  done  by  tracking 
them  on  the  sand,  whither  they  went  to  deposit 
their  eggs.  We  used  to  turn  them  over  on  to 
their  backs,  and  drag  them  down  to  the  boat. 
When  alongside  they  were  hoisted  on  board  with 
a  tackle ;  some  of  them  weighing  four  or  five 
hundred  weight.  They  were  then  killed,  and 
converted  into  a  soup  for  the  whole  ship's  com- 


I     ifi 


pany. 


21=^ 


i^ 


246 


A  VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


M: 


i  i 


I 


The  day  after  we  left  Tampico  on  our  passage 
^  to  Vera  Cruz,  I  was  lookincf  out  on  the  cat-head  or 
starboard  bow;  seeinc^  a  sail,  1  shouted,  "  Sail  ho ! " 
when  three  other  vessels  hove  in  sight.  These 
were  all  patriot  privateers,  so  we  were  ordered  to 
our  quarters ;  but  the  vessels,  discovering  our 
character,  kept  clear  of  our  guns,  and  we  pursued 
our  own  course. 

About  ten  o'clock,  A.  M.,  we  saw  two  more  of 
these  privateers,  crowded  with  men,  but  mounting 
only  one  long  gun.  Mistaking  us  for  a  Spanish 
brig,  with  money  on  board,  they  fired  most  lustily 
for  us  to  heave  to.  We  mounted  short  carron- 
ades,  excepting  two  long  nines  at  the  bows,  so  wo 
bore  down,  all  hands  being  at  their  quarters,  to 
bring  our  short  guns  to  bear  upon  them.  Mean- 
while we  kept  one  of  the  long  nines  in  full  blast. 
I  was  stationed  at  this  gun ;  and  it  being  my  duty 
to  sponge  and  load,  I  had  to  exert  every  muscle 
and  strain  every  nerve,  as,  firing  only  one  gun,  it 
was  necessary  to  discharge  it  as  often  as  pos- 
sible. Before,  however,  we  came  near  enough  to 
injure  them,  they  discovered  what  we  were,  fired 
a  leeward  gun  in  token  of  friendship,  and  hauled 
off.  If  they  had  not,  our  men  very  elegantly 
observed,  they  would  have  found  they  had  taken 
the  wrong  pig  by  the  ear. 

We  soon  came  in  sight  of  the  beautiful  revolv- 
ing light,  which  throws  its  friendly  beams  on 
the  port  of  Vera  Cruz,  where,  as  in  the  former 
places,  we  lay  a  short  time,  and  then,  after  visit* 


BIX   YEARS   IN    A   MAN    OF   WAR. 


847 


f  passage 
it-head  or 
Sail  ho!" 
.  These 
)rdered  to 
(ring  our 
3  pursued 

more  of 
mounting 
I  Spanish 
)st  lustily 
rt  carron- 
wa,  so  we 
larters,  to 
.  Mean- 
full  blast. 
r  my  duty 
ry  muscle 
le  gun,  it 
1  as  pos- 
3nough  to 
^ere,  fired 
id  hauled 
elegantly 
liad  taken 

ill  revolv- 
beams  on 
le  former 
fter  visit- 


ing some  other  ports,  we  returned  to  our  former 
station  at  Ship  Ishuul.  llore,  however,  wo  ro- 
muined  for  only  a  brief  period,  before  wo  were 
under  weigh  for  New  Orleans,  from  which  place 
we  sailed  to  Havana.  Such  is  tliu  constant 
change  kept  up  by  mtui  of  war  on  a  cruise. 

On  this  passage,  1  was  placed  in  a  position 
which  exposed  mo  to  tlu^  punishment  of  the  lash, 
though  by  a  mere  accident  I  escapi'd.  There  was 
a  habit  in(lulg(!d  in  among  us,  which  is  common 
among  all  sailors  at  sea ;  i  mean  that  of  stealing 
a  nap  during  our  watch  at  night.  Seated  on  tho 
carriage  of  a  gun,  or  on  a  shot-locker,  with  folded 
arms,  we  indulged  in  nuuiy  u  minute  of  sweet 
sleep,  notwithstanding  it  was  contrary  to  the  rules 
of  the  ship.  To  ])revent  this  as  much  as  possi- 
ble, tho  ollicer  of  tho  watch  used  to  give  the  first 
man  he  caught  napping,  a  liandspike,  with  which 
he  wns  compelled  to  walk  tho  deck  until  he  found 
another  sleeper,  to  whom  he  was  allowed  to  trans- 
fer his  burden.  One  night  I  was  caught  dozing, 
and  had  to  perform  the  consequent  march  with 
the  handspike.  After  walking  about,  without 
success,  in  search  of  a  sleeper,  for  some  time,  I 
thought  it  might  be  well  to  try  my  fortune  in  the 
tops.  Scare (ily  had  I  set  foot  on  tho  top,  before 
the  officer  below  cried,  "  Fore-top,  there ! " 

"Sir?" 

"  Aloft,  and  take  in  the  fore-top-gallant  sail)" 

This  order  caused  every  man  to  spring  to  his 
Station.     Supposing  no  one  would  pass  before  the 


»^ 


248 


A    VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


mast,  I  stood   my  handspike  upright  against  it. 
But  there  happened  to  be  a  man,  by  the  name  of 
Knight,  dozing  there ;  and  when  he  was  aroused 
by  the  command  of  the  officer,  he  passed  before 
the  mast  to  get  on  to  the  starboard  side.     As  sai- 
lors usually  grasp  something  when  aloft,  he  missed 
his  hold  of  what  he  intended  to  catch,  and  seized 
my  handspike,  which  of  course  fell.     To  my  con- 
sternation, he  fell  with  it.     Tumbling  out  of  the 
fore-top,  he  fortunately  struck  the  foot-rope  of  the 
fore-yard,  which  broke  the  force  of  his  fall.    When 
he  reached  the  deck,  he  came  bouncing  on  a  tall, 
stout   Irishman,   named   Tom    Smith,   who,   not 
imagining  the  cause  of  so  rough  and  sudden  an 
assault,  roared  out,  as  they  both  fell  together  on 
the  deck,  "  Och !  indeed  you  have  killed  me ! " 
Here,  however,  he  was  mistaken;  he  was  more 
frightened  than  hurt ;  and  the  innocent  cause  of 
his  fright  was  able  to   resume   his   duties,  after 
two  or  three  days'  respite.     Very  fortunately  for 
my  back,  the   unlucky  handspike  was   not  sus- 
pected ;  and  my  share  in  this  serio-comic  accident 
remained  a  secret  within  my  own  breast. 

It  has  often  been  a  subject  of  surprise  to  my 
mind,  that  men  so  seldom  fall  from  the  tops,  in 
the  long  night-watches  they  keep  there.  Often 
have  I  stood  two  hours,  and,  sometimes,  when  my 
shipmates  have  forgotten  to  relieve  me,  four  long, 
tedious  hours,  on  the  royal  yard,  or  the  top-gallant 
yard,  without  a  man  to  converse  with.  Here, 
overcome  with  fatigue  and  want  of  sleep,  I  have 


SIX  YEARS  IN  A  MAN  OF  WAR. 


249 


ainst  it. 
name  of 

aroused 
d  before 

As  sai- 
e  missed 
d  seized 
my  con- 
It  of  the 
De  of  the 
.  When 
on  a  tall, 
vho,  not 
3dden  an 
ether  on 
ed  me !" 
;^as  more 
cause  of 
ies,  after 
ately  for 

not  sus- 

accident 

?e  to  my 
e  tops,  in 
.  Often 
when  my 
bur  long, 
►p-gallant 
Here, 
p,  I  have 


fallen  into  a  dreamy,  dozy  state,  from  which  I  was 
roused  by  a  lee  lurch  of  the  ship.  Starting  up, 
my  hair  has  stood  on  end  with  amazement  at  the 
danger  I  had  so  narrowly  escaped.  But,  notwith- 
standing this  sudden  fright,  a  few  minutes  had 
scarcely  elapsed  before  I  would  be  nodding  again. 
How  wonderful  that  more  are  not  swallowed  in 
the  hungry  deep ! 

When  the  weather  was  rough,  we  were  in- 
dulged with  permission  to  stand  on  the  fore-top- 
sail yard,  or  on  the  top-gallant  cross-trees ;  and, 
if  the  ship  rolled  heavily,  we  lashed  ourselves  to 
the  mast,  for  greater  safety.  I  can  assure  my 
readers,  there  is  nothing  desirable  in  this  part  of 
a  sailor's  duty.  In  whatever  the  pleasure  of  a 
life  at  sea  consists,  it  is  not  in  keeping  a  look-out 
from  the  mast-head  at  night. 

But  the  most  disagreeable  of  all  is,  to  be  com- 
pelled to  stand  on  these  crazy  elevations,  when 
half  dead  with  sea-sickness.  Some  suppose  that 
sailors  are  never  sea-sick  after  the  first  time  they 
go  to  sea.  This  is  a  mistake ;  it  is  very  much 
with  them  as  it  is  with  landsmen,  in  respect  to 
being  sick  in  a  coach.  Those  who  are  of  bilious 
temperaments,  are  always  affected,  more  or  less, 
when  they  ride  in  a  stage  or  sleigh ;  while  others 
are  never  sick  on  these  occasions.  So  with  sea- 
men ;  some  are  never  sea-sick,  others  are  sick  only 
when  going  out  of  port,  while  some  are  so  in 
every  gale  of  wind.  Mr.  Dana  mentions  some 
of  the  crew  in  his  ship,  who  were  sick,  after  being 


mmn 


250 


A    VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN    DECK. 


fl 
!      j 

■I       A 


.'l!> 


at  sea  two  years,  as  they  came  to  Boston.  I  was 
usually  sick  after  laying  some  time  in  port,  and 
have  often  stood  at  the  inast-head  when  so  sick 
that  any  landsman  on  shore,  in  a  similar  state, 
would  think  it  hard  if  he  could  not  lie  abed.  For 
a  sailor,  there  is  no  allowance  made  for  sea-sick- 
ness ;  he  must  remain  at  his  post  until  it  is  time 
to  he  relieved. 

When  we  entered  Havana,  we  came  to  anchor 
near  the  Spanish  fort,  and  fired  a  salute,  which 
was  courteously  returned  by  the  Spaniards.  We 
had  been  here  but  a  short  time,  before  an  Irish- 
man, named  Dougherty,  who  had  formerly  de- 
serted from  the  Spanish  garrison,  took  it  into  his 
head  to  run  away  from  our  brig.  This  he  accom- 
plished by  the  assistance  of  some  Spaniards,  to 
Avhom  he  made  himself  known.  Several  others 
also  left  us,  in  this  port,  among  whom  was  our 
swearing  sailing-master;  and  a  great  deal  was 
said  about  running  away  throughout  the  ship. 
The  man  who  was  flogged  on  suspicion  at  New 
Orleans,  now  endeavored  to  get  off  in  reality. 
He  strayed  from  the  boat,  but  the  officer,  meeting 
him,  endeavored  to  force  him  back.  He  resisted ; 
a  struggle  ensued ;  the  officer  fell  to  the  ground, 
and  the  man  called  to  the  Spaniards  to  assist  him. 
They  left  him,  however,  to  fight  his  own  battles ; 
and  the  officer,  having  succeeded  in  getting  the 
advantage,  presented  a  pistol  to  his  breast,  and 
he  surrendered.  For  this  offence,  he  was  flogged 
most  fearfully.     In  the  British  service,  he  would 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF    WAR. 


251 


1.     I  was 

port,  and 
n  so  sick 
ilar  state, 
bed.  For 
sea-sick- 
it  is  time 

to  anchor 
to,  which 
rds.     We 

an  Irish- 
merly  de- 
it  into  his 
be  accom- 
niards,  to 
ral  others 
L  was  our 

deal  was 
the  ship, 
n  at  New 
n  reality. 
r,  meeting 
;  resisted; 
le  ground, 
Lssist  him. 
n  battles; 
etting  the 
reast,  and 
as  flogged 
he  would 


have  been  hung !      It  is  certain  death  with  them, 
to  strike  an  ofliccr. 

Hearing   so   much   said  about  running  away, 
and    feeling  ahnost  as  unhappy  as  when  in  the 
Macedonian,  1  began  to  think  of  it  myself.    Some- 
times I  thought  of  trying  to  get  into  the  Spanish 
garrison  as  a  soldier ;  at  others,  of  joining  some 
of  the  numerous    slavers  that  lay  there,  and  in 
which  our  men  said  a  good  chance  could  be  had. 
SjkI  chances,  as  they  now  appear,  especially  the 
latter ;  but  I  was  young  and  ignorant.      My  feel- 
ings and  the  advice  and  opinion  of  my  shipmates 
influenced  me  more  than  the  dictates  of  an  enlight- 
ened understanding.     Resolving  to  make  a  trial, 
if  opportunity  oflfered,  I  one  day  put  on  an  extra 
shirt  and  drew  on  a  second  pair  of  pantaloons. 
When  thus  prepared,  the  oflicer  of  the  deck  hap- 
pened to  discover  the  two  waistbands  of  my  trou- 
sers ;  he  questioned  me  with  a  suspicious  curios- 
ity.    I  told  him  as  specious  a  tale  as  I  could 
invent  on  the  spot ;  which  was,  that  I  had  been 
mending  my  trousers,  and,  before  they  were  fin- 
ished, was  called  to  go  ashore  in  the  boat,  and 
not  having  time  to  put  them  away,  had  slipped 
them  on.     Fortunately,  a  needle  and  some  thread 
which  I  had  about  me,  confirmed  my  story  and 
saved  me  from  difficulty.     It  was  pretty  obvious, 
however,  that  the  officer,  though  silenced,  was  not 
satisfied ;  for  I  was  so  closely  watched,  after  that 
day,  I  gave  up  the  idea  of  escape  as  utterly  futile 
and  hopeless. 


tti 
It 


■;M 


252 


A  VOICE   FROM  THE   MAIN  1)ECK. 


,    '**» 


t  i  1 1  ■ 


,1 


I  I  si 


From  Havana  we  returned  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Mississippi,  where  we  captured  the  Comet,  a 
patriot  schooner,  on  suspicion  that  the  patriotism 
of  her  crew  had  degenerated  into  something  less 
respectable.  Harsh  as  it  must  have  sounded  in 
the  ears  of  her  officers,  we  charged  them  with 
piracy;  took  possession  of  the  vessel,  and  brought 
her  hands,  as  prisoners,  on  board  our  brig.  Her 
master's  name  was  Mitchell ;  his  crew  were  all 
stout,  fierce-looking  blacks,  having  all  sorts  of 
odd  names,  such  as  Monday,  Friday,  &c.  She 
had  a  rich  cargo,  and  contained  large  sums  of 
money.  It  was  reported  that  they  had  attacked 
an  island  somewhere  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and 
murdered  its  governor.  We  put  them  in  irons, 
with  sentries  over  them,  who  were  charged  to  cut 
off  their  heads  if  they  dared  to  lift  them  above  the 
hatchway.  I  performed  this  duty  a  part  of  the 
time,  parading  round  the  hatch  with  a  drawn  cut- 
lass ;  but  they  showed  no  symptoms  of  resistance, 
and  were  sent  in  their  vessel  to  New  Orleans. 
Their  fate  I  never  ascertained. 

This  adventure  cost  one  of  our  own  crew,  an 
Irishman,  by  the  name  of  Tom  Smith,  a  severe 
flogging.  Smith  was  quite  a  moral  philosopher 
in  his  way ;  though  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  his 
philosophy  was  a  little  infected  with  lunacy.  Its 
premises  were  certainly  sound,  but,  unfortunately, 
its  conclusions  bore  but  little  relation  to  the  parent 
of  whom  they  boasted.  He  taught  that  man  was 
bom  to  do  good;   that  his  chief  good  was  the 


141 


S'JC    YEARS   IN   A   MAN    OF   WAR. 


253 


ith  of  the 
Comet,  a 
patriotism 
thing  less 
>unded  in 
bem  with 
d  brought 
rig.     Her 

were  all 

sorts  of 
&c.     She 

sums  of 
I  attacked 
exico,  and 

in  irons, 
ged  to  cut 
above  the 
art  of  the 
Irawn  cut- 
resistance, 
'  Orleans. 

1  crew,  an 
,  a  severe 
hilosopher 
d  that  his 
nacy.  Its 
3rtunately, 
the  parent 
t  man  was 
i  was  the 


: 


promotion  of  his  own  interests;  and  that,  per 
consequence,  he  should  help  himself  to  whatever 
he  could  lay  his  hands  on,  without  regard  to  the 
rights  of  others.  With  these  views,  Tom  ear- 
nestly defended  the  rightfulness  of  piracy,  and 
could  he  have  managed  to  get  on  board  a  pirate 
vessel,  or  even  have  contrived  to  wrest  our  own 
sliip  from  the  hands  of  her  officers,  and  hoist  the 
black  flag,  he  would  have  cheerfully  done  so. 
But  somehow,  although  he  had  made  a  number 
of  disciples  among  his  shipmates,  our  captain 
paid  no  manner  of  respect  to  his  theories;  for, 
when  Tom,  in  consistency  with  his  ofter  declared 
principles,  deliberately  carried  off  a  large  sum  of 
money  from  our  capture,  to  his  own  quarters,  the 
captain,  who  perceived  the  theft  himself,  ordered 
him  to  the  gangway,  and  administered  as  many 
hard  lashes,  as  if  Tom  had  had  no  philosophy 
at  all.  ^4; 

But,  although  Tom  Smith's  philosophy  did  not 
save  its  unlucky  advocate  from  the  unphilosophic 
punishment  of  the  whip,  it  nevertheless  exerted  a 
baneful   influence   on   the   morals   of  our  crew. 
Many  of  them  were  doubtless  bad  enough  when 
they  came  on  board ;  but  a  more  complete  school 
for  the  practise  of  iniquity  never  existed,  than 
that  on  board  our  brig.      Profanity,  blasphemy, 
lying,  licentious  conversation,  and  even  a  system 
of  petty  stealing,  were  practised  on  a  large  scale. 
iTxany  of  the  men  were  ripe  for  any  crime  within 
the  power  of  depraved  humanity  to  commit,  and 
22 


m 


R     * 

if 

I 


254 


A   VOICE   FROM   THE    MAIN    DECK. 


f'. 


I 


I  have  often  thought  that  even  the  decks  of  a  pri- 
vateer or  a  pirate,  could  not  lead  one  faster  and 
deeper  into  the  extremes  of  wickedness,  than  did 
the  influence  of  our  main  deck. 

With  wh^t  a  voice  do  such  pictures  of  sailor 
immorality,  call  for  exertion  on  the  part  of  an 
enlightened  Christian  community,  in  behalf  of 
seamen?     Where   is  the  presence  of  the  meek 
spirit  of  Christianity  more  needed,  than  on  the 
decks  of  our  merchant  and  naval  vessels  ?   Where 
wouM  missionaries  and  Bibles  accomplish  more 
than  here  ?     There  is  no  sphere  of  Christian  use- 
fulness so  important,  so  promising  as  this.    Every 
vessel  in  the  navy  should  have  its  chaplain.     Not 
one  of  your  proud,  fun-loving,  graceless  wine- 
bibbers,  but  a  humble,  devoted  man,  who  would 
not  think  it  beneath  his  dignity  to  mingle  with 
the  common  sailors,  as  a  pastor  among  the  flock 
of  his  affections,  moulding  their  rough,  but  sus- 
ceptible natures  into  the  image  of  virtue,  by  the 
force  of  his  pious  example,  and  the  influence  of 
his  effectual  prayers.     Then,  in  the  merchant  ser- 
vice, a  species  of  itinerant  missionary  might  be 
indefinitely  useful.     He  might  be  sent  out  by  a 
society,  pledged  for  his  support ;  and,  by  permis- 
sion of  the  owners,  sail  in  a  ship  on  her  outward 
passage.     Arrived  at  her  port,  he  might  sail  to 
another  place,  in  a  different  ship,  and  then  return 
home  in  a  third.     In  this  way,  a  score  of  devoted 
men  of  the  right  stamp,  could  exert  an  unparal- 
leled influence  on  the  character  of  sailors.    Yicoi 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN    OF    WAR. 


255 


s  of  a  pri- 
faster  and 
3,  than  did 

s  of  sailor 
part  of  an 
behalf  of 
the  meek 
an  on  the 
s  ?  Where 
plish  more 
•istian  use- 
is.  Every 
lain.  Not 
less  wine- 
vho  would 
ingle  with 
^  the  flock 
b,  but  sus- 
tue,  by  the 
ifluence  of 
rchant  ser- 
r  might  be 
it  out  by  a 
by  permis- 
er  outward 
ght  sail  to 
then  return 
of  devoted 
in  unparal- 
ors.    VicGi 


irreligion,  profanity,  and  insubordination,  would 
presently  flee  away  before  the  beautiful  purity  of 
religion,  and  our  ships,  instead  of  being  desig- 
nated as  floating  hells,  would  become  houses  of 
God,  arks  of  holiness,  consecrated  bethels  !  Pray, 
Christian,  that  this  desirable  consummation  may 
be  speedily  attained  ;  and  be  not  satisfied  with 
merely  praying ;  add  actio7i  to  your  prayers.  Stir 
up  your  church  to  the  claims  of  seamen !  Give 
your  money  to  assist  in  supporting  sailors'  mis- 
sionaries, bethels,  and  the  like.  Make  it  the  set- 
tled purpose  of  your  heart,  not  to  rest  until  you 
behold  the  sailor  elevated  to  his  proper  position, 
which  is  that  of  a  Christian  man  ! 


w 


CHAPTER   XII. 


Homeward  passage — Story  telling — Their  moral  effect — 
The  author  threatened  with  a  flogging — Smuggling — 
Arrival  at  New  York — My  discontent — Escape  from 
the  Boxer — Journey  to  Hartford — Distress — The  hos- 
pitable Presbyterian — Deacon  Cook — Woman's  kind- 
ness— A  fortunate  discovery  of  an  old  shipmate — A 
situation — The  author  at  work  on  a  farm — Anecdote — 
The  funeral — Its  moral  effects — Seriousness — A  prayer- 
meeting — Profession  of  religion — A  period  of  backslid- 
ing— Recovery — A  camp-meeting — Father  Taylor — 
The  parting  scene — Author  joins  the  Methodist  church 
— The  crew  of  the  Macedonian — John  Wiskey — Hutch- 
inson— James  Day. 

After  a  short  stay  at  the  Balize,  we  put  to  sea 
once  more,  for  the  purpose,  as  it  was  understood, 
of  touching  at  Havana,  and  then  returning  to  New 
York.  This  was  a  cheerful  voyage  ;  the  idea  of 
a  speedy  return  to  America,  spread  a  feeling  of 
exquisite  delight  over  the  whole  crew,  and  con- 
verted the  performance  of  our  duty  into  a  pleas- 
ure. One  effect  was,  to  set  those  hands,  who 
were  gifted  with  the  talent,  so  highly  prized  in  a 
man  of  war,  of  "  spinning  yarns,"  busily  at  work 
during  every  spare  moment,  when  a  group  could 
be   gathered   to   listen.     Foremost  among  these 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


257 


oral  effect — 
Smuggling- 
Escape  from 
s — The  hos- 
man's  kind- 
shipmate — A 
-Anecdote — 
5 — A  prayer- 
of  backslid- 
er Taylor — 
lodist  church 
key — Hutch- 


i  put  to  sea 
inderstood, 
ng  to  New- 
he  idea  of 
feeling  of 
^  and  con- 
to  a  pleas- 
ands,  who 
prized  in  a 
ily  at  work 
roup  could 
long  these 


intellectual  time-killers  was  Richard  Dickinson,  a 
messmate  of  mine,  a  good-natured  Englishman. 
He  called  himself  the  son  of  Old  Dick,  by  which 
epithet  he  was  usually  called.  Dick's  powers 
were  now  in  great  demand,  and  he  exercised  them 
to  our  universal  satisfaction,  but  with  how  great 
regard  for  truth  I  cannot  determine.  It  is  proba- 
ble, however,  that  truth  entered  very  little  into 
Dick's  productions.  Ho  was  a  sort  of  off-hand 
novelist ;  all  he  cared  for  was  effect,  and  where 
truth  failed  him,  fiction  generously  loaned  her  ser- 
vices. So  bewitching  were  Dick's  stories,  that  I 
used  to  long  for  the  hour  when  we  could  lay  in 
our  hammocks  and  listen.  My  first  salutation, 
when  we  lay  for  the  last  time  in  the  port  of  Ha- 
vana, was,  "  Come,  Dick,  tell  us  a  yarn." 

"  What  is  the  use  ?  you  will  go  to  sleep,"  he 
used  to  reply. 

"  No  I  won't,  Dick ;  I  can  listen  to  your  yarns 
all  night,"  was  my  usual  answer. 

Dick  would  then  begin  some  yarn,  which,  if  not 
so  interesting  as  the  thousand-and-one  stories  in 
the  Arabian  Knights'  Entertainments,  was  at  least 
as  true  to  nature,  and,  in  respect  to  its  humor, 
might  be  compared  to  some  of  the  sayings  of  that 
illustrious  personage,  Sancho  Panza,  the  renowned 
squire  of  the  immortal  Don  Quixote ;  but,  in  spite 
of  my  promises,  I  usually  gave  notice  of  my  condi- 
tion after  a  short  time,  by  performing  a  concord 
of  nasal  sounds,  vulgarly  called  snoring,  which 
22^ 


258 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


would  set  Dirk  to  swcarinc:,  ^irid  often  put  an  end 
to  his  performances  for  the  night. 

I  need  scarcely  say,  that  these  "  yarns"  were  by 
no  means  favorable  in  their  moral  elFccts  on  the 
listener.  They  generally  consisted  in  fictitious 
adventures  on  the  sea  and  on  the  shore,  plenti- 
fully interlarded  in  their  recital  with  profane 
oaths  and  licentious  allusions.  When  seamen 
become  elevated,  and  are  properly  instructed, 
these  filthy  stories  will  be  superseded  by  reading- 
good  and  useful  literature,  with  an  abundance  of 
which  every  ship  should  be  supplied  by  the  be- 
nevolence of  the  Christian  public. 

On  the  passage  to  Havana,  Dick  and  myself 
fdl  under  the  displeasure  of  the  captain.  We 
were  stationed  one  night  in  the  fore-top,  where 
we  were  comfortably  dozing  away  the  time.  The 
captain  was  on  deck.  The  ofTicer  of  the  watch 
hailed  the  fore-top.  We  did  not  hear  him  until 
the  call  was  repeated  two  or  three  times.  For 
this  we  were  ordered  below,  and  told  by  the  cap- 
tain that  we  should  be  flogged  the  next  day  be- 
fore the  whole  crew.  With  this  consolatory  in- 
formation we  returned  to  our  station,  without  the 
least  inclination  to  sleep  again  for  that  watch. 
With  a  sort  of  philosophic  desperation,  I  laughed 
and  said,  "  Dick,  which  would  you  rather  do — 
have  your  grog  stopped  awhile,  or  take  a  flog- 
ging?" 

Dick  \Vn<5!  VPrv  fn-nrl   nf  Tiic  (rrnrr  *    en  Tio  rfinlt/a/l 

"  Oh,  I  had  rather  they  would  stop  my  wind  than 


SIX   YEARS   IN    A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


259 


ut  an  end 

"  were  by 
cts  on  the 
fictitious 
re,  plcnti- 
1  profane 
1  seamen 
nstructed, 
y  reading" 
ndance  of 
ly  the  be- 

d  myself 
lin.  We 
op,  where 
me.  The 
he  watch 
[lim  until 
les.  For 
r  the  cap- 
t  day  be- 
latory  in- 
thout  the 
It  watch. 
[  laughed 
her  do — 
e  a  flog- 


iltA/l 

irind  than 


my  grog,  and  would  sooner  be  flogged  by  consid- 
erable than  lose  that."  I  question,  however, 
if  he  had  been  left  to  choose  between  grog  and 
whip  at  the  gangway,  whether  he  would  not  have 
altorcd  his  tone  in  favor  of  his  grog.  Still,  his 
answer  shows,  how  strongly  sailors  are  attached 
to  their  beloved  rum.  I  am  happy  to  know  that 
this  regard  is  tying  away,  and  that  temperance  is 
doing  something  among  sailors.  May  it  go  on, 
until  cold  water  is  as  popular  in  a  man  of  war,  as 
grog  Avas  twenty  years  since.  We  never  heard, 
however,  of  our  offence  again.  Dick  was  quite  a 
favorite  with  the  officers,  and,  except  a  blow  in 
the  head,  given  me  by  the  captain,  I  had  never 
been  punished.  Perhaps  these  were  the  reasons 
why  we  escaped  the  gangway. 

At  Havana  we  got  a  large  amount  of  Spanish 
dollars  aboard  for  some  merchants  in  New  York. 
These  were  smuggled  from  the  shore.  Our  men 
were  sent  off  in  the  boats,  with  their  pockets  and 
bosoms  well  stuffed  with  the  precious  metal ;  and 
in  this  way  we  soon  got  it  all  safely  lodged  in  our 
hold,  except  that  the  captain's  servant,  falling  des- 
perately in  love  with  them,  furnished  himself  with 
all  he  could  carry,  and  ran  away  from  the  ship. 

After  adding  to  our  freight  of  dollars  a  fine  sup- 
ply of  oranges,  lemons,  pine  apples,  &c.,  we  cheer- 
fully weighed  anchor  and  set  sail  for  New  York. 
We  reached  that  port  after  a  short  and  prosperous 

VnvtiCrfi  :   mpptinrr  \irith   r>0  ii-»nC/1rt«+    ^-^^^-^i   4.U_*.  it- _ 
■-.;~o~-    "^ o    "^'^*   i^^  •«ii«-.i-wtciil,  c-vv^cpi   liiui  Hi© 

cold  weather  caused  us  a  little  suffering,  and  ena- 


260 


A   VOICE   FROM  THE    MAIN   DECK. 


:l     *  if 


bled  the  purser  to  add  a  few  dollars  to  the  profits 
of  the  voyage,  by  supplying  us  with  a  lot  of  red 
flannel  shirts. 

When  I  was  on  board  the  Syren,  I  was  con- 
tented. The  officers  were  kind,  the  crew  were 
peaceful  and  well-behaved  ;  but  in  ihe  Boxer,  some 
of  the  officers  were  severe,  and  the  crew  corrupt, 
and  I  did  not  enjoy  myself  at  all.  Some  said 
that  in  time  of  war  the  men  were  better  treated 
than  in  time  of  peace ;  but  though  this  may  be 
true  to  a  limited  extent,  yet  I  think  the  difference 
in  these  two  brigs  was  owing  more  to  the  charac- 
ter of  their  respective  officers  than  anything  else. 
Be  this  as  it  may,  my  experience  in  the  Boxer  had 
completely  sickened  me  of  man  of  war  life,  and  I 
determined,  if  possible,  to  get  free  of  it  at  once  and 
forever. 

My  station,  as  one  of  the  crew  of  the  jolly-boat, 
gave  me  frequent  opportunities  to  accomplish  my 
purpose.  So,  one  day,  at  the  solicitation  of  a  ship- 
mate, I  resolved  to  make  the  attempt.  Cruel 
treatment  was  my  excuse ;  yet  I  have  sometimes 
been  ashamed  of  my  course  in  this  instance  ;  and 
-would  heartily  advise  all  boys  in  the  naval  service 
to  stay  their  time  out.  We  were  successful  in 
escaping;  and  as  we  had  but  little  money,  I  there- 
fore proceeded  directly  from  the  shore  to  a  pawn 
shop,  and  there  disposed  of  our  pea-jackets,  which 
were  new,  and  for  which  the  purser  had  charged 
us  ten  dollars  nnlprp.       Wp  nKtm'nofl  tl-io  rM^iAJ 

sum  of  six  dollars  for  the  two.     With  this,  we 


t  -M 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


261 


the  profits 
lot  of  red 

was  con- 
rew  were 
)xer,  some 
w  corrupt, 
5ome  said 
er  treated 
s  may  be 
difference 
le  charac- 
hing  else. 
Boxer  had 
life,  and  I 
;  once  and 

jolly-boat, 
iplish  my 
of  a  ship- 
t.  Cruel 
ometimes 
tice ;  and 
al  service 
essful  in 
',  I  there- 
0  a  pawn 
ts,  which 
charged 

\(\     r\itrff%} 
iC;      Lrxlxiui 

this,  we 


started  in  a  hack,  which  was  to  carry  us  outside 
of  the  city.  We  then  travelled  hard  all  day, 
resting  at  night  in  a  barn,  where  we  suffered 
extremely  from  the  cold.  The  next  day  we  pur- 
sued our  way  towards  New  Haven.  The  day 
after,  we  were  still  on  the  road.  This  was  the 
Sabbath,  and  we  felt  strangely  at  seeing  the  good 
people  of  the  village,  through  which  we  passed, 
going  to  meeting.  The  foot-stoves,  that  the  grave 
matrons  bore  in  their  hands,  were  things  I  had 
never  seen  before ;  so,  to  the  great  merriment  of 
my  companion,  I  observed  that  they  were  excel- 
lent contrivances  to  carry  their  books  in  to  meet- 
ing !  We  reached  New  Haven  on  Monday  even- 
ing, where  we  put  up  at  a  sailor's  boarding- 
house  for  the  night.  Here  my  shipmate  left  me, 
and  I  proceeded  alone  to  Hartford,  begging  my 
support  by  the  way,  for  my  money  was  by  this 
time  all  exhausted. 

At  Hartford  I  tried  to  ship  on  board  some  mer- 
chant vessel.  Not  succeeding,  I  strove  to  find 
some  one  to  take  me  as  an  apprentice  to  instruct 
me  in  the  art  of  bootmaking,  but  with  no  better 
success.  These  repulses  discouraged  me.  It  was 
Christmas  day,  and  the  associations  connected 
with  the  day— the  merry-makings  of  my  early 
boyhood— were  anything  but  pleasant  to  me  in 
my  distress.  The  bell  was  tolling  for  the  funeral 
of  priest  Strong,  and  it  seemed  as  if  the  melan- 
CixGij  Oi  the  niourncrs  fully  accorded  with  my 
feelings,  and  was  preferable  in  my  mind  to  the 


'I, 


262 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


I 


spirit  of  rejoicing  that  prevailed  among  those  who 
were  keeping  merry  Christmas  in  merry  mood. 
Perhaps,  if  they  had  invited  me  to  partake  of  their 
cheer,  I  should  have  changed  my  opinion.  As  it 
was,  with  only  five  cents  in  my  pocket,  I  wan- 
dered lonely  and  sad  through  the  city.  With  a 
feeling  of  despair  I  stepped  into  a  cellar  for 
something  to  drink.  They  charged  me  five  cents, 
and  left  me  at  once  friendless  and  penniless.  At 
the  bridge,  the  toll-keeper  demanded  a  cent. 
I  looked  at  him  fiercely,  and  told  him  I  had 
nothing.  He  let  me  pass  over  toll  free.  Towards 
night,  feeling  tired  and  hungry,  I  endeavored  to 
hire  myself.  But  who  would  employ  an  utter 
stranger  ?  I  went  to  a  number  of  houses,  implor- 
ing a  lodging  for  the  night.  With  freezing  cold- 
ness, I  experienced  repulse  after  repulse,  until  my 
heart  chilled  with  horror,  with  the  fear  of  spend- 
ing that  long,  cold  night  out  of  doors.  At  last  I 
called  on  a  kind-hearted  Presbyterian,  who  gave 
me  a  supper,  lodging  and  breakfast.  Their  morn- 
ing and  evening  devotions  were  peculiarly  inter- 
esting to  me ;  for,  excepting  while  a  prisoner  at 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  I  had  never  listened  to 
an  extemporaneous  prayer. 

The  next  morning  I  left  this  truly  hospitable 
family,  and  pursued  my  inquiries  for  employment. 
Some  asked  if  I  could  chop  wood;  others,  if  I 
knew  anything  about  farming ;  and  \/hen  I  an- 
swered "  No,"  they  shook  their  heads,  and  I 
trudged  on.     Sometimes  I  offered  to  work  for  my 


SIX   YEARS    IN    A    MAN   OF   WAR. 


263 


lose  who 
y  mood. 
;  of  their 
L.  As  it 
,  I  wan- 

Witha 
3llar  for 
ve  cents, 
ess.     At 

a  cent. 
1  I  had 
Towards 
Lvored  to 
an  utter 
,  implor- 
ing cold- 
antil  my 
f  spend- 
At  last  I 
ho  gave 
lir  morn- 
ly  inter- 
isoner  at 
tened  to 

5spitable 
loyment. 
ers,  if  I 
m  I  an- 
,  and  I 
i  for  my 


board,  but,  being  a  sailor,  and  having  no  recom- 
mendations, people  were  afraid  to  take  n\c  into 
their  families.  Still  I  pushed  on.  A  man  over- 
took me  in  the  town  of  Coventry,  ami  began  a  very 
interesting  and  faithful  discourse  about  religion. 
I  listened  respectfully ;  he  took  me  home  with 
him,  where,  although  he  was  a  deacon,  he  gave 
me  some  cider-brandy  :  but  these  were  not  the 
days  of  temperance.  After  this  he  sent  me  to 
Pomeroy's  tavern,  where  h(^  tbounht  they  would 
hire  me.  This  application  failing,  he  advised  me 
to  apply  at  the  glass  works  which  wrre  a  little 
distance  from  that  place.  With  this  advice,  I  took 
leave  of  Deacon  Cook,  and  proceeded  towards  the 
glass  houses. 

Before  reaching  them,  however,  night  came. 
A  family,  who  occupied  a  red  house,  received  me, 
whose  hospitality  I  returned  by  singing  a  number 
of  sea  songs.  Early  the  next  morning,  I  tried  to 
get  work  at  the  glass  house,  but  though  I  was 
willing  to  stay  for  my  board,  they  would  not  take 
me.  Mr.  Turner,  the  agent,  very  kindly  gave  me 
a  breakfast,  and  then  I  left  him,  determined  to  gel 
to  Boston  if  possible,  and  go  to  sea  once  more. 

My  situation  was  really  a  trying  one  :  my  only 
clothing  was  a  blue  jacket  and  trousers  ;  shoes 
more  than  half  worn  out,  and  a  little  tarpaulin  hat 
stuck  on  the  back  of  my  head,  in  genuine  sailor 
fashion.=^     Mittens  and  money  were  alike  far  off 

*  If  the  reader  wishes  to  knew  why  seamen  wear  their 
hats  on  the  back  of  their  headS;  let  him  put  his  hat  on  as 


..M 


264 


A    VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


"♦ 


from  my  fingers,  and  friends  wore  as  scarce  as 
money.  People,  too,  seemed  afraid  of  a  sailor; 
and  this,  in  addition  to  all  my  other  troubles,  ren- 
dered me  an  object  of  suspicion.  At  such  times, 
I  assure  my  young  reader,  that  the  picture  of  a 
kind  mother  and  a  good  home,  are  but  too  faith- 
fully presented  to  the  mind,  filling  it  with  a  thou- 
sand vain  and  useless  regrets.  No  young  man 
need  desire  to  be  in  the  outcast  prodigal  con- 
dition in  which  I  stood,  in  the  depth  of  that  cold 
winter. 

When  I  reached  the  town  of  Mansfield,  I  called 
at  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Nathaniel  Dunham ;  the 
kind  manners  and  friendly  language  of  whose 
lady  I  shall  never  forget.  She  told  me  that  if  I 
was  honest.  Providence  would  shortly  open  some 
way  by  which  I  could  live.  Her  words  fell  on 
my  ear  like  a  prophecy,  and  I  left  the  house,  con- 
fident of  some  favorable  turn  in  my  aflfairs  before 
long.  At  Mansfield  four  corners,  I  inquired  of 
Dr.  Waldo,  who,  with  several  others,  sat  under  a. 
piazza,  and  afterwards  of  a  Mr.  Edmund  Freeman, 
for  employ.  They  gave  me  no  encouragement. 
Persevering,  I  at  last  met  with  ^  Mr.  Peter  Cross, 
who,  seeing  my  sailor  garb,  asked  what  ships  I  had 
sailed  in.  Hearing  me  mention  the  Macedonian, 
he  said,  "  There  is   a  man  here  whose  name  is 

usual  and  ascend  a  ladder.  He  will  find  himself  unable 
to  look  up  until  he  places  it  on  the  back  of  his  head  as  a 
sailor  does.  Sailors  wear  their  hats  thus,  because  they 
could  not  otherwise  ascend  the  rij^  jing  of  a  ship. 


SIX   YEARS   IN    A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


265 


scarce  as 
a  sailor; 
bles,  ren- 
ch  times, 
ture  of  a 
too  faith- 
1  a  thou- 
ung  man 
igal  con- 
that  cold 

,  I  called 
I  am ;  the 
of  whose 

that  if  I 
pen  some 
s  fell  on 
luse,  con- 
irs  before 
[uired  of 
t  under  jl 
Freeman, 
■agement. 
ter  Cross, 
dps  I  had 
cedonian, 

name  is 

self  unable 
s  head  as  a 
cause  they 


William  Hutchinson.     He  was  taken  in  her.     Do 
you  know  him  ? " 

"  Yes,"  said  I,  after  a  moment's  recollection ; 
"  he  was  our  armorer's  mate." 

Of  course,  I  lost  no  time  in  seeking  for  my  old 
shipmate.  After  crossing  various  lots,  and  getting 
vexed  and  perplexed  for  want  of  proper  direction, 
I  reached  his  comfortable  homestead.  He  did  not 
recognise  me  at  first,  on  account  of  the  great  alter- 
ation a  few  years  had  made  in  my  size  and 
appearance;  but,  when  he  did  recall  me  to  his 
recollection,  with  the  generous  frankness  of  a 
sailor,  he  offered  me  all  the  hospitality  and  assist- 
ance in  his  power.  A  good  supper  was  speedily 
spread;  and  then,  seated  before  his  ample  fire- 
place, sparkling  and  crackling  with  a  cheerful 
blaze,  we  recounted  our  adventures.  He  had 
wandered  into  Connecticut,  and  married  a  very 
respectable  woman.  They  now  owned  a  house 
and  some  land,  and  were  in  tolerably  comfortable 
and  thriving  circumstances.  With  such  discourse, 
we  talked  away  the  better  part  of  the  night,  when 
the  old  tar  showed  me  my  chamber,  archly  ob- 
serving that  "  my  bed  would  not  rock  much." 

The  next  morning,  he  said  I  should  not  leave 
him  until  I  was  provided  for  in  some  way  or 
other.  Through  his  influence,  a  Mr.  James,  his 
brother-in-law,  employed  me  to  work  in  his  cloth- 
dressing  establishment.  As  I  w^s  ignorant  of  the 
business,  and  was  not  really  needed,  my  board 
was  to  be  my  only  compensation. 
23 


.4| 


■-m 


266 


A   VOICE   FKOM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


My  now  situation  soon  grew  delightful  to  me, 
and  I  iblt  happier  than  I  had  ever  done  since  I 
left  Bladen.  My  tiuif^  parsed  very  pleasantly, 
especially  my  evening?,  when  the  neighbors  came 
in  to  hear  me  spin  sea  yarns  and  forecastle  songs. 
Some  of  the  young  men  of  the  "baser  sort" 
judged  me  to  be  a  fit  instrument  to  act  Sampson 
for  their  enjoyment,  in  the  house  of  God.  So 
they  invited  me  to  attend  the  meetings  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  thai  place.  But 
they  greatly  misjudged  the  character  of  seamen; 
who,  as  before  remarked,  usually  pay  respect  to 
the  ordinances  and  ministers  of  religion.  I 
attended  the  meeting,  but  not  to  make  sport. 
The  result  of  this  ill-desig  .ed  invitation  on  my- 
self will  appear  hereafter. 

The  winter  months  fled,  and  the  spring  found 
me  unfurnished  with  means  co-extensive  with 
my  wants.  Determined  to  remain  ashore,  if 
possible,  I  hired  myself  to  a  farmer  for  my  board. 
In  the  evenings  I  braided  straw  hats,  and  thus 
obtained  a  scanty  supply  of  clothing.  A  little 
incident,  illustrative  of  the  thoughtless  playfulness 
of  sailor  character,  may  not  be  displeasing  to  my 
young  readers. 

Whoever  has  seen  a  perfect  novice  undertake 
to  guide  an  ox-team,  may  form  some  idea  of  the 
ludicrous  adventures  through  which  I  passed 
during  my  agricultural  novitiate  with  these  horned 
animals.  Perseverance,  however,  gave  me  some 
little  control  over  our  team,  when,  as  fate  would 


m  « 


SIX   YEARS    IN    A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


267 


ill  to  me, 
ie  since  I 
leasantly, 
bors  came 
!tle  songs, 
ser  sort" 
Sampson 
God.  So 
Ts  of  the 
ace.  But 
'  seamen; 
respect  to 
igion.  I 
ike  sport, 
•n  on  my- 

'ing  found 
sive  with 
Lshore,  if 
my  board, 
and  thus 
A  little 
layfulness 
ing  to  my 

undertake 
iea  of  the 

I  passed 
;se  horned 

me  some 
fate  would 


have  it,  my  employer  "  swapped  "  them  for  another 
pair.  When  tliey  came  home,  after  some  little 
hallooing  and  whipping,  I  succeeded  in  "  yoking" 
them ;  then  seizing  the  goad-stick,  w  ih  as  much 
dignity  as  ever  Neptune  wielded  his  trident,  I 
mounted  the  tongue,  (which  I  called  the  bowsprit,) 
and  with  the  ladders  riggod  up  at  both  ends,  I 
gave  the  word  of  comrnand  to  my  team.  They, 
however,  showed  .signs  of  mutiny,  and,  taking  to 
their  heels,  bore  me  off  in  triumph.  This  was  sport 
indeed;  there  1  stood,  my  head  and  shoi  ders 
passed  between  the  rent  rigging,  laughing  as  if 
my  sides  would  burst,  wh'^  rakes,  forks  and 
boards  were  playing  leap-frog,  at  the  tail  of  my 
cart,  and  m^  master's  boy  was  half  fri^.  tened 
out  of  Lis  wits.  At  length  the  angry  voice  of  my 
master  rousod  me  from  my  sportive  mood;  he 
did  not  relish  the  rough  usage  his  farming  tools 
were  receiving,  and  (  )ming  up  with  my  horned 
steeds,  he  speedily  stopped  their  speed  and  my 
?port.  I  need  only  add  that  ais  rebukes  made 
me  mon  careful  afterwards. 

When  the  haying  season  commenced,  I  It ..  my 
first  employer,  and  obtained  the  sum  of  eight  dol- 
lars per  month,  a  board  ;  the  wages,  however, 
in  accordance  with  the  rue  Yanlee  method  of 
making  money  out  of  everything,  were  to  be  pay- 
able at  the  village  store.  This  change  led  me 
into  a  situation  which  ^  roved  another  link  in  the 
chain,  which  ended  in  my  conversion  to  God.  The 
son  of  my  employer  died  ;  he  was  about  fourteen 


268 


A  VOICE   FROM   THE   MAIN   DECK. 


■m 


years  of  age ;  in  company  with  a  pious  member 
of  the  Methodist  church,  I  sat  up  one  night  with 
the  corpse.  With  the  faithfulness  of  a  true 
Christian,  he  improved  the  occasion  by  seriously 
conversing  with  me  on  the  great  concerns  of 
immortality.  His  discourse,  together  with  the 
funeral  services,  had  a  very  softening  and  gracious 
influence  on  my  feelings,  though  the  only  present, 
practical  effect  was  a  more  punctual  attendance  on 
the  services  of  the  sanctuary. 

Towards  winter,  I  went  to  live  with  Mr.  Joseph 
Conant,  to   learn  the  business  of  filing   augers 
and  steelyards.     Here  my  acquaintance  was  con- 
siderably enlarged,  as  several  young  men  were 
attached  to  the  establishment.     Among  them  was 
one  who  made  a  profession  of  religion.      As  is 
usual  among  the  young,  we  were  devoted  triflers ; 
and  he,  to  my  astonishment,  was  as  jocose  and 
merry  as  the  rest.     Ignorant  as  I  was  of  religion, 
his   conduct   appeared   strangely  inconsistent;    I 
wondered  he  did  not  converse  with  me  about  my 
soul.     One  day  I  took  him  aside  and  faithfully 
expressed  my  views  of  his  conduct.     He  acknowl- 
edged his  guilt.     Afterwards  we  attended  meetings 
in  company,  and  he  was  faithful  in  speaking  with 
me  about  the  things  that  belonged  to  my  salvation. 
He  urged  upon  me  the  importance  of  giving  my- 
self up  to  God  at  once,  and  affectionately  invited 
me  to  attend  class-meeting.     My  mind  was  seri- 
ously inclined,  but  I  could  not  yet  venture  upon 
60  close  an  intercourse  with  the  people  of  God. 


5  member 
light  with 
if   a   true 

seriously 
icerns  of 

with  the 
1  gracious 
y  present, 
ndance  on 

[r.  Joseph 
ig  augers 
;  was  con- 
men  were 
them  was 
1.      As  is 
;d  triflers ; 
ocose  and 
if  religion, 
isistent ;   I 
about  my 
faithfully 
3  acknowl- 
d  meetings 
iking  with 
r  salvation, 
giving  my- 
ely  invited 
i  was  seri- 

of  God, 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


269 


One  Sabbath  evening,  my  friend,  Ella  Dunham, 
who  had  dealt  so  faithfully  with  me,  when  we 
watched  together  over  the  corpse  of  Orson  Kidder, 
asked  me,  "  When  do  you  intend  to  set  out  and 
seek  religion?" 

I  replied,  somewhat  evasively,  "  Any  time." 

"  Well,"  said  ^e,  "  are  you  willing  we  should 
pray  for  you,  and  will  you  go  forward  for  prayers 
to-night?" 

To  this  I  replied,  that  I  would  think  of  it.    The 
meeting  proved  to  be  intensely  interesting.     My 
desire  to  express  the  inward  workings  of  my  mind, 
grew   strong.      Of  the   forms   and   practices   of 
Christians  in  revivals,  I  was  altogether  ignorant, 
having  never  witnessed  a  conversion  in  my  life ; 
still,  it  seemed  to  me  highly  proper  to  declare  lAy 
feelings  in  the  presence  of  Christians,  that  they 
might  give  such  instructions  as  were  necessary  to 
lead  me  into  the  right  way.     With  these  views, 
I  determined  to  rise  and  speak,  though  the  evil 
one  whispered,  "  Not  yet !  not  yet !"  in  my  ears. 
Just  as  I  stood  up,  some  one,  not  seeing  me, 
began  to  sing ;  this,  I  took  to  be  a  suitable  excuse 
for  further  delay,  and  sat  down,  heartily  wishing 
that  no  one  had  seen  me.     Fortunately,  my  friend 
Dunham  had  witnessed  my  movement.     He  re- 
quested them  to  stop  singing,  because  a  young 
man  wished  to  speak.     Thus  encouraged,  I  told 
them  I  was  then  nineteen  years  of  age,  and  it 
seemed  to  me  too  much  of  life  to  spend  in  sin ; 
that  eternity  was  a  solemn  idea,  and  I  desired 
28^ 


m 


m 


:in 


. .  I 


270 


A    VOICE    FROM    THE    MAIN    DECK. 


them  to  tell  me  how  to  prepare  to  enter  upon  it 
with  joy.  They  proposed  to  pray  with  me.  We 
then  all  kneeled  down  toirelher.  Most  fervently 
did  they  pray  for  the  diviMc  blessini^  to  rest  on 
the  strano^er  youth,  ixiwed  in  penitence  Iwfore 
them,  and  most  sincerely  did  I  join  my  prayers 
with  theirs  before  the  throne  of  God.  After 
prayer,  they  siin<i-  tlie  followiniif  familiar  lines, 
which  I  inseri.  both  f(^r  their  intrinsic  excellence, 
and  for  the  pleasantness  of  the  associations  con- 
nected with  them  in  my  own  mind. 

^'  Alas,  and  did  my  Saviour  bleed ! 
/nd  (lid  my  Soveroii^n  die! 
Would  he  devote  that  sacred  head, 
For  such  a  worm  as  1  ? 

O  the  Lamb!  the  loviup;  Lamb! 

The  Lamb  on  Calvary, 

The  J^amb  that  was  slain, 

Yet  lives  ac^ain. 

To  bleed  and  die  for  me." 

Although  these  words  were  very  sweetly  ap- 
plied to  ray  mind,  I  did  not  feel  any  evidence  of 
the  favor  of  God  that  nic^ht.  The  next  day,  with 
a  strong  purpose  to  live  for  eternity,  I  entered  on 
my  daily  tasks.  Religion  was  the  theme  of  my 
thoughts  and  discourse;  during  the  day,  a  sweet 
calm  came  over  me  ;  peace  and  joy  filled  ray  soul. 
It  was  the  pardoning  love  of  God  applied  to  my 
guilty  spirit. 

Ah !  thought  I,  this  must  be  religion ;  but  desir- 


SIX    YKAIIS    IN    A    BIAN    OF    WAR. 


a7i 


r  upon  it 
me.  We 
fervently 
.0  rest  on 
ice  Iwfore 
y  prayers 
[\.  After 
liar  lines, 
ixcelleiice, 
tions  cou- 


vcetly  ap- 
^'idence  of 
day,  with 
wintered  on 
tne  of  my 
y,  a  sweet 
d  my  soul, 
lied  to  my 

but  desir- 


ing" to  be  rio:ht,  I  went  to  my  employer  and  com- 
municated my  feeliiig.s  to  liitn.  Jlis  rej)ly  rather 
damped  my  joy.  lie  wa^  a  moralist ;  morality,  he 
said,  was  all-siinicii*rit  to  secure  a  man's  well 
beino"  both  in  this  lile  and  in  that  to  com(\  This, 
however,  did  not  satisfy  my  mind.  To  me  it  seem- 
ed certain  that  pj-ennine  repentance,  ;uid  a  chan<(0 
of  heart,  were  all-essential  to  niiy  ha|)[)iness;  and 
these,  if  not  already  mine,  I  determined  to  possess. 

The  remarks  and  exp(;rienc(!  of  the;  Methodists, 
at  their  prayer  meetiniifs,  were  ^^reatly  blessed  to 
my  comfort.  Gradunlly  thc^  lii^ht  broke  ;  the  day- 
star  shone.  Peace,  like  a  river,  filled  my  breast; 
joy,  as  from  an  nnfailinji;-  fountain,  bubbled  up 
within  me;  love  animated  my  affections;  by  day 
and  by  nii^ht  I  sani»-  the  pra'ses  of  God,  and  the 
society  of  Christ's  dear  people  seemed  precious 
indeed  to  my  soul.  I  thouirht  this  sweet  frame 
would  last  forever.  I  detcTinined  it  should,  so 
far  as  my  efforts  were  necessary  for  its  contin- 
uance. Abis !  I  knew  not  my  own  heart :  a 
dreary  wilderness  state  was  before  me,  and  I,  like 
many  an  unwary  soul  before  me,  heedlessly  stum- 
bled into  its  gloomy  shadows. 

By  a  sudden  change  in  the  condition  of  my 
employer,  I  was  led  to  seek-  employment  in  Ash- 
ford.  Here,  in  the  shop  of  Mr.  Giles  Stebbins,  I 
was  surrounded  by  many  light-minded,  trifling 
young  men.  Falling  into  the  same  snare  for 
which  I  had  reproved  a  professor  before  I  was  con- 
verted, my  peace  and  calm  were  lost,  every  evi- 


272 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN    DECK. 


I 


dence  darkened,  and  the  wretchedness  of  a  back- 
slider in  heart  filled  my  soul.  This  apostacy  lasted 
several  months,  when,  through  the  love  and  long- 
suffering  of  a  gracious  God,  I  was  once  more  re- 
stored to  a  state  of  salvation.  Since  that  time, 
though  I  have  not  gained  all  that  is  desirable,  and 
that  is  offered  in  an  abundant  gospel,  yet  I  have 
been  trying  to  stem  the  torrent  of  inifjuity,  which 
runs  through  the  earth,  and  striving  to  make  my 
way  to  the  port  of  Glory. 

The  next  fall  I  walked  eighteen  miles  to  a 
camp-mccling  in  Thompson,  Conn.,  the  first  I 
had  ever  attended.  Though  the  scene  was  novel, 
I  soon  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  servicers;  espe- 
cially when  informed  that  a  sailor  was  going  to 
preach  one  evening.  This  sailor  was  no  other  thaa 
the  well-known  Rev.  E.  T.  Taylor.  His  t^xt  was 
in  Philippians  iv.  19:  "  But  my  God  shall  supply 
all  your  needs ;"  which  he  handled  in  his  usual 
happy  and  eccentric,  powerful  manner.  I  had 
never  before  seen  a  religious  sailor;  to  hear  one 
preach,  therefore,  in  such  forcible  and  effective 
style,  was  to  me  a  source  of  unutterable  delight. 
Nor  were  the  listening  masses  before  the  stand, 
who  hung  with  intense  eagerness  on  his  lips,  less 
pleased  than  myself.  They  broke  out  into  loud  ex- 
pressions of  praise  to  God  for  his  wonderful  mer- 
cies. "  This,"  said  the  speaker,  "  is  but  a  drop 
from  a  bucket!  What  will  it  be  when  we  drink 
from  the  mighty  ocean  itself?  " 

At  this  meeting  I  saw  sinners  yielding  to  Christ 


SIX   YEARS    IN    A    MAN    OF   WAR. 


273 


)f  a  back- 
acy  lasted 
and  long- 
more  re- 
that  time, 
irable,  and 
et  I  have 
ity,  which 
make  my 

liles  to  a 
he  first  I 
vas  novel, 

'* ;  espe- 
1  going  to 
other  thaa 
s  text  was 
all  supply 

his  usual 
r.  I  had 
I  hear  one 
1  effective 
le  delight, 
the  stand, 
s  lips,  less 
to  loud  ex- 
erful  mer- 
)ut  a  drop 

we  drink 

s^  to  Christ 


with  tears  of  sacred  penitence,  for  the  first  time  in 
my  life.  Never  in  all  my  life  had  a  spectacle  more 
sublimely  beautiful  met  my  eye.  I  do  not  believe 
the  world  affords  a  more  grateful  sight  than  that 
of  a  sinner  weeping  and  repenting  before  his  Cre- 
ator. 

The  parting  scene  of  that  meeting  left  an  indel- 
ible impression  on  my  memory.  Even  now  I  see 
that  affectionate  company  marching  in  regular  and 
joyful  procession  before  the  stand,  each  shaking 
hands,  as  he  passed,  with  the  preachers.  Still  I 
feel  the  tears  chasing  each  other  down  my  cheeks, 
as  I  grasped  the  hand  of  the  sailor  preacher  so 
firmly,  that  it  seemed  I  should  never  let  it  go ; 
while  he,  seeing  my  emotion,  observed,  "  Never 
mind,  brother,  we  are  on  board  of  Zion's  ship 
now.'  I  had  stood  tearless  alike  amidst  the  wait- 
ings of  the  teij  ^  and  the  roar  of  the  battle,  but 
here,  amor>g  a  few  Christians  at  a  camp-meeting, 
my  heart  w^  mh  as  a  woman's,  and  my  tears 
flowed  like  mm.  Does  the  reader  inquire  what 
made  the  difference  ?     I  answer,  it  was  the  love 

of  God. 

When  1  returned  home,  one  of  my  first  acts  was 
to  unite  myself  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church :  an  act  which  has  led  to  the  formation  of 
many  pleasant  friendships,  and  which  has  proved 
the  source  of  much  religious  enjoyment  to  my 

soul. 

My  mind  often  reverts,  with  a  mixture  of  joy 
and  sorrow,  to  the  fate  of  the  three  hundred  men 


Ml 


274 


A  VOICE   FROM  THE   MAIN   DECK. 


and  boys  who  sailed  with  me  in  the  Macedonian, 
when  I  left  England  for  the  first  time.  Of  these, 
alas !  how  many  perished  in  battle  !  The  rest  were 
scattered  over  the  four  quarters  of  the  globe.  Be- 
side myself,  I  never  heard  of  but  one  of  them  who 
embraced  religion.  This  was  John  Wiskey, 
one  of  our  quarter-masters.  He  settled  in  New 
London,  and  when  he  met  in  class,  for  the  first 
time,  he  said  he  blessed  God  he  had  got  out  of 
that  floating  hell,  the  Macedonian.  He  after- 
wards removed  to  Catskill,  on  the  North  River, 
where  he  maintained  a  good  Christian  reputation. 

My  shipmate,  who  received  me  so  hospitably  in 
Mansfield,  became  unfortunate,  lost  his  property, 
and  died,  but  not  before  I  had  the  satisfaction  of 
ofTering  a  prayer  at  his  bedside. 

The  little  fellow  who  escaped  from  the  Macedo- 
nian with  me  met  with  a  melancholy  fate.  This 
I  learned  one  day  from  the  following  paragraph 
in  a  newspaper :  "  Drowned,  out  of  a  pilot  boat, 
off  Charleston  Bar,  Mr.  James  Day,  one  of  the 
crew  of  His  Britannic  Majesty's  late  frigate  Mace- 
donian." Thus  have  I  been  signally  favored— a 
brand  plucked  from  the  fire.  For  this  special 
favor  I  hope  to  render  my  heavenly  Father  the 
eternal  tribute  of  a  grateful  heart. 


Lcedonian, 

Of  these, 

rest  were 

obe.     Be- 

them  who 

Wiskey, 

d  in  New 

the  first 

rot  out  of 

He  after- 

fth  River, 

eputation. 

spitably  in 

property, 

faction  of 

e  Macedo- 
ite.  This 
paragraph 
pilot  boat, 
ne  of  the 
^ate  Mace- 
avored — a 
lis  special 
^ather  the 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

Home  feelings — Correspondence  with  home — Letter  from 
my  mother— Fear  of  apprehension  leads  me  to  decline 
going  to  her — My  father-in-law's  death— A  new  business 
— Another  change — Rum-selling — Convictions  on  the 
subject — The  temperance  lecture — My  marriage — 
Rum-selling  given  up— Removal  to  Wilbraham— Pros- 
perity— A  visit  to  the  Macedonian — An  exhortation  to 
her  crew— Home  correspondence — Lord  Churchill's 
note— Dr.  Fisk's  visit  to  my  mother— A  mother's 
present — Resolution  to  visit  England— Preparations. 

During  the  various  scenes,  dangers  nd  wan- 
derings of  these  years  of  my  youth,  I  had  not  for- 
gotten the  home  of  my  boyhood ;  and,  now  that 
I  was  becoming  somewhat  settled  in  my  prospects, 
I  wrote  an  affectionate  letter  to  my  mother.  After 
a  delay  of  several  months,  I  received  two  letters 
in  reply,  one  from  my  mother,  and  the  other  from 
my  sister.  That  from  my  mother  is  inserted  in  this 
narrative,  for  the  purpose  ofeKhibitingto  the  young 
reader,  who  may  fancy  tha'  his  parents  feel  no  very 
great  interest  in  his  welfare,  another  instance  of 
the  deep,  undying  love  of  a  mother's  heart. 


276 


A  VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


:      i 


I 


Bladen,  December  23,  1818. 
My  dearly  beloved  Child : — 

I  cannot  describe  the  sensations  I  felt  when  I 
received    a    letter   from  your    dear    hands.      It 
was  the  greatest  pleasure  I  have  enjoyed  since 
you  left  me.     I   have  never  been  sorry  but  once 
since  you  left,  and  that  has  been  ever  since  ;  but  I 
hope  the  Almighty  has  ordered  it  all  for  the  best.    I 
have  never  forgotten  to  pray  for  you  morning,  night, 
and  many  times  in  the  day,  though  I  talked  very 
little  about  you  to  any  one,  because  I  did  not  wish 
to  make  any  one  else  uncomfortable.     But  that 
God,  who  knows  the  secrets  of  all  hearts,  sees  how 
sincerely   thankful   T   am   because  he    has   been 
pleased  to  hear  my  prayers  that  I  might  hear  from 
you  again  ;  for  I  was  fearful  I  never  should.     But 
now  I  have  great  hopes  that  the  blessed  Lord  will 
protect  you,  and  spare  our  lives  to  see  each  other 

again. 

My  dear  child,  you  have  not  stated  how  you 
came  to  be  separated  from  the  crew  when  the 
ship  was  taken,  nor  how  you  have  been  employed 
since.  You  must  be  the  best  judge  whether  it 
will  be  safe  for  you  to  venture  home.  It  would 
be  a  great  pleasure  for  me  to  see  you,  but  if  there 
is  danger  of  bad  consequences,  on  account  of  your 
having  been  in  the  service  against  your  country, 
and  if  any  bad  consequence  should  follow  your 
coming  home,  it  would  make  me  more  unhappy 
than  I  have  ever  been  yet.  If  there  is  no  danger, 
I  should  be  very  happy  to  have  you  come  home 


SIX   YEARS   IN  A   MAN   OF  WAR. 


277 


3,  1818. 

3lt  when  I 
Lands.      It 
)yed  since 
y  but  once 
nee ;  but  I 
the  best.    I 
ling,  night, 
alked  very 
d  not  wish 
But  that 
s,  sees  how 
has   been 
t  hear  from 
ould.     But 
i  Lord  will 
each  other 

d  how  you 
7  when  the 
n  employed 
whether  it 
.  It  would 
but  if  there 
)unt  of  your 
lur  country, 
follow  your 
re  unhappy 
1  no  danger, 
come  home 


and  learn  a  trade ;  as,  thank  God,  I  have  it  in  my 
power  lo  do  something  for  you  ;  and  nothing  shall 
be  wanting  to  make  you  comfortable,  that  I  can 
do.  You  say  it  may  be  one  or  two  years  before 
you  come;  but  pray  come  the  first  opportunity, 
as  you  will  be  gladly  received  by  us  all.  If  it  is 
a  want  of  money  that  prevents  you  from  coming, 
and  you  cannot  work  your  passage,  perhaps  you 
can  get  one  by  showing  the  captain  of  some  ship 
my  letter,  and  he  may  depend  on  being  paid  as 
soon  as  you  arrive  in  England.  If  neither  will 
do,  send  me  word ;  and  if  there  is  any  place  in 
London  where  your  passage  money  can  be  paid, 
I  will  pay  it  there  for  you.  You  are  right  in 
supposing  yourself  twenty-two  years  of  age  on 
the  nineteenth  of  March,  (1S19.)  Your  sister 
Maria  is  twenty.  She  is  grown  a  fine  young 
woman;  I  am  happy  to  say  is  very  steady  and 
thoughtful ;  though  not  of  a  very  strong  constitu- 
tion. She  is  at  service  in  London.  She  has 
Avritten  to  you,  and  I  hope  you  will  receive  her 
letter  with  this. 

^  #  #  #  ^  :5(:  # 

I  hope,  my  dear  child,  you  will  not  fail  to  come 
home.  Send  me  all  the  particulars  of  your  life, 
at  the  first  opportunity.  I  am  afraid  you  have 
gone  through  a  great  deal  of  trouble  and  hardship 
since  I  saw  you.  But  the  merciful  Lord  has 
been  pleased  to  bring  you  through  the  whole,  and 
He  is  able  to  carry  you  through  more,  if  you  put 
your  trust  in  Him.     It  gave  me  great  comfort  to 


III 


278 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN    DECK. 


mM 


I 


hear  that  you  are  so  well  disposed,  as  I  am  sure 
you  are,  from  the  spirit  of  your  letter ;  it  was 
more  pleasure  to  me  than  if  you  had  gained  all 
the  riches  in  the  world.  I  wish  I  was  as  well 
acquainted  with  religion  as  yourself;  but  I  will 
try  to  make  a  better  use  of  my  time,  and  should 
it  please  God  to  let  you  come  home,  I  hope  you 
will  be  the  means  of  great  good  to  me. 

There  are  a  number  of  Methodist  meetings 
about  us.  The  people  who  live  in  our  yard  are 
very  strict  ones.  I  never  disliked  the  Meth- 
odists; I  think  they  have  a  great  gift  of  religion. 
I  sent  your  letter  to  Lady  Churchill,  formerly 
Lady  Francis  Spencer.  Both  Lord  and  Lady 
Churchill  were  glad  to  hear  from  you,  and  are 
your  well-wishers.  The  Duke  and  Dutchess  of 
Marlborough  are  both  dead.  Blenheim  is  much 
altered  for  the  worse,  since  his  son  has  become 
Duke.  Lord  Francis,  that  was,  makes  a  very 
good  master ;  and  when  the  Duke  died,  he  left  Blen- 
heim. His  country  house  is  in  the  forest.  Your 
father  is  his  carpenter  in  the  timber  yard ;  he  has 
filled  this  situation  six  weeks.  He  comes  home 
every  Saturday ;  and  next  spring  they  are  going 
to  place  me  and  the  children  in  a  lodge  near  him. 
We  hope  to  have  the  happiness  of  seeing  you 
there. 

.U,  .M.  4t.  .u.  ^&.  4b  4fr 

?ff  ^  W  TV  •Tf-  W  TT 

It  is  eight  years  the  twelfth  of  last  July,  since 
you  left  us.  =^  #  =J^  Your  father,  brothers 
and  sisters  all  join  with  me  in  hearty  prayers  to 


I  am  sure 
r ;  it  was 

^ained  all 
LS  as  well 
3Ut  I  will 
nd  should 
hope  you 

meetings 
r  yard  are 
he  Meth- 
f  religion. 

formerly 
and  Lady 
;,  and  are 
itchess  of 
I  is  much 
IS  become 
es  a  very 
J  left  Blen- 
st.  Your 
d ;  he  has 
mes  home 
are  going 
near  him. 
eeing  you 

Fuly,  since 
',  brothers 
prayers  to 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


279 


Almighty  God,  that  his  blessing  may  be  upon 
you  ;  and  if  it  is  his  blessed  will,  we  shall  see 
you  again ;  if  it  is  not,  we  must  be  resigned  to 
what  is  fitting  for  us,  and  pray  that  we  may  all 
meet  in  heaven,  where  all  tears  shall  be  wiped 
away.  That  God  may  bless  you,  my  dear  child, 
is  the  sincere  prayer  of 

Your  ever  loving  mother. 

Susan  Newman. 

Notwithstanding  the  earnestness  of  my  moth- 
er's spirit,  breathed  out  so  ardently  for  my  return 
in  this  letter,  I  dared  not  risk  myself  on  British 
soil.  Her  expression  of  sorrow,  if  bad  conse- 
quences should  ensue,  had  its  weight  in  deter- 
mining me  to  remain  ;  but  a  conversation  with 
the  celebrated  Lorenzo  Dow,  who  had  recently 
returned  from  his  English  tour,  settled  the  ques- 
tion. He  said  he  had  seen  four  men  hung,  who, 
like  me,  had  been  in  the  service  of  some  other 
country,  after  deserting  from  their  own.  This  was 
quite  sufficient ;  for,  much  as  I  longed  to  visit  the 
homes  of  my  childhood,  I  had  no  disposition  to 
do  it  with  a  gallows  suspended  over  my  head.  I 
therefore  wrote  my  mother,  that,  not  having  a 
regular  discharge  from  the  navy,  it  would  be  best 
for  me  to  continue  where  I  was  ;  but  I  begged  them 
to  seriously  think  of  emigrating  themselves  ;  since 
my  father-in-law,  being  an  excellent  carpenter, 
could  do  well  in  New  England.  Alas  I  it  was 
not  for  him  ever  to  consider  of  this  proposition ; 


280 


A    VOICE    FROM    THE    MAIN    DECK. 


tfflf  rMf  j ' 


for,  when  my  letter  arrived,  they  were  performing 
the  sad  obsequies  of  death  over  his  breathless 
corpse.  A  prevailing-  fever  had  terminated  a  life 
of  iifty-seven  years,  after  a  sickness  of  two  weeks. 
My  mother,  now  a  widow  the  second  time,  after 
twelve  years  of- pleasant  union  with  her  last  hus- 
band, thouglit  it  unfitting,  at  her  time  of  life,  to 
venture  across  the  ocean ;  and  therefore  all  my 
plans  for  collecting  my  relatives  on  American  soil, 
were  blasted  in  the  bud. 

Perhaps,  after  following  me  through  the  changes 
of  my  life  at  sea,  the  reader  may  feel  a  little  in- 
terest in  knovv'in"'  how  I  succeeded  as  a  landsman. 
He  has  seen  me  escaping  the  breakers  that  met 
me  on  my  fu'bt  approach  to  the  shore ;  and  now, 
if  his  patience  be  not  entirely  exhausted,  he  may 
pursue  my  fortunes  a  little  further. 

He  left  me,  when  my  episode  about  home  led 
him  away  from  the  thread  of  the  narrative,  busily 
at  work  as  a  filer  of  steel-yards,  at  Mansfield, 
Conn.  From  thence,  I  returned  to  Ashford, 
where  I  continued  a  year  or  two.  At  last,  doubt- 
ing the  stability  of  my  employer,  and  fearing  lest 
what  he  owed  me  might  be  lost,  I  took  up  the 
whole  in  the  shape  of  a  w^aggon  and  a  stock  of 
steel-yards ;  then,  purchasing  a  horse,  I  travelled 
from  place  to  place  to  sell  them;  and  in  this 
manner  got  into  a  business  which  I  have  followed 
more  or  less  ever  since.  After  acquiring,  by 
economy  and  diligence,  a  few  hundred  dollars,  1 
opened  a  small  store  in  Mansfield,  with  the  in- 
tention of  leading  a  still  more  settled  life ;  though 


SIX   YtARb      N    A       AN    OF   "\\  AR. 


281 


n*  forming 
jreathless 
ited  a  life 
io  weeks, 
ime,  after 
last  hus- 
of  life,  to 
e  all  my 
rican  soil, 

e  changes 
I  little  in- 
andsman. 
that  met 
and  now, 
[,  he  may 

home  led 
ive,  busily 
Mansfield, 

Ashford, 
ist,  doubt- 
jaring  lest 
ok  np  the 
,  stock  of 
[  travelled 
d  in  this 
e  followed 
liring,  by 

dollars,  1 
di  the  in- 
e;  though 


about  that  tinr-  my  mind  was  strongly  exercised 
with  a  dcsir  to  devote  myself  to  the  religious 
benefit  of  >nen.  My  sense  of  unfitness  for  so 
great  a  w»  k,  at  last  pnvaile<  and  I  proceeded 
with  my  p     is  of  world  ^  \v     nr 

The  davs   ot    which    T  .vere   those   on 

which  the  bright  star  of  temperaace  had  scarcely 
shone.  Minist-rs,  aeons,  Christians,  all  used 
the  deadly  drinks.  Was  it  surprising,  therefore, 
that  I,  hut  so  short  a  time  before  a  rum-loving 
sailor,  fell  into  the  common  current,  and  became 
a  rumseller?  No,  it  was  not  'range  !  but  it  was 
a  strange,  a  glorious  display  oi  restraining  frrace, 
that  prevented  me  from  being  drawn  nito  the 
snare  I  was  thus  thoughtlessly  spreading  for  the 
poor  drunkard. 

But  even  in  those  early  days  of  temperance,  I 
was  not  without  my  trials  of  mind  in  respect  to 
the  unholy  traffic.  Once,  when  at  Hartford, 
making  purchases  for  my  store,  of  which  rum 
formed  no  inconsiderable  article,  I  accidentally 
heard  of  a  lecture  on  temperance,  to  be  delivered 
at  Dr.  Hawes's  church.  This  was  the  first  dis- 
course on  the  subject  I  ever  heard.  The  speaker 
excited  a  deep  interest  in  my  mind,  as  he  told  of 
the  origin  of  rum,  its  primary  costliness  and  rank 
among  medicines,  of  the  growth  of  distilleries,  the 
consequent  decline  in  its  price,  and  the  attending 
spread  of  drunkenness.  So  deadly  a  plot  against 
the  peace  of  the  world,  he  said,  could  only  have 
been  contrived  in  hell. 


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282 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


tf  ! 


»i    I'  I 


This  discourse  fell  like  light  on  some  dark 
opaque;  it  illuminated  my  understanding,  dis- 
turbed my  conscience.  No  sleep  visited  my  eyes 
that  night.  Duty  said,  "  Send  back  your  team, 
without  rum  in  the  morning."  Fear  of  men,  pub- 
lic opinion,  interest  said,  "No.  Every  other 
store-keeper  sells  it,  and  so  may  you."  The  lat- 
ter argument  prevailed.  Conscience  was  rebuked ; 
the  rum  went  to  my  store. 

Shortly  after  this  struggle,  I  married  a  member 
of  the   Methodist  church  in  Hartford.     We  re- 
moved to  Somers,  Connecticut,  where  I  continued 
to  sell  rum,  though,  as  before,  with  great  caution 
and  with  much  inward  struggling  of  mind.     At 
last  I  could  hold  out  no  longer,  and  in  spite  of  the 
example  of  ministers,  (some  of  whom  often  drank, 
though  sparingly,  at  my  house,)  in  spite  of  the 
sneers  of  the  scornful,  and  of  the  fear  of  loss  to 
my  trade,  I  gave  it  up !     It  was  for  the  poor,  un- 
taught sailor  to  set  the  example  of  sacrifice  to  the 
stor'e-keepers  of  Somers      Three  others  imitated 
me  in  a  short  time.     Not  to  me,  but  to  the  grace 
of  God,  be  the  glory  of  my  decision  and  resolution. 
I  can  assure  the  modern  rum-seller,  whose  lashed 
and  tortured  soul  still  cleaves  to  the  rum  barrel 
and  the  toddy  stick,  for  the  sake  of  the  profit,  that 
I  have  ever  regarded  that  act  as  among  the  best 

of  my  life. 

Finding  my  present  residence  ill  adapted  to  a 
successful  prosecution  of  business,  I  closed  up  my 
concerns,  and  removed  to  Wilbraham,  Mass.,  the 


SIX   YEARS    IN    A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


283 


>me  dark 
Ling,   dis- 

my  eyes 
our  team 
Tien,  pub- 
Dry   other 

The  lat- 
rebuked; 

a  member 
We  re- 
continued 
at  caution 
nind.     At 
pite  of  the 
ten  drank, 
»ite  of  the 
of  loss  to 
!  poor,  un- 
ifice  to  the 
•3  imitated 
the  grace 
resolution, 
ose  lashed 
rum  barrel 
profit,  that 
ig  the  best 

flapted  to  a 

)sed  up  my 

Mass.,  the 


place  of  my  present  abode  ;  a  pleasant  town,  but 
which  is  rendered  more  so  by  the  very  superior 
opportunities  it  affords  for  the  education  of  chil- 
dren, in  its  most  excellent  and  nourishing  acad- 
emy. 

Here  my  life  glided  pleasantly  and  quietly 
along,  affording  no  incidents  worthy  of  special 
record.  Happiness  presided  at  my  domestic 
board,  prosperity  accompanied  my  tempoial  en- 
terprises, and  religion  reigned  as  the  ruling  genius 
over  the  whole.  My  ways  were  committed  unto 
the  Lord,  and  he  directed  my  steps ;  for  which  I 
praise  him  with  my  whole  heart. 

In  this  delightful  manner  several  years  fled 
away ;  when,  my  business  having  led  me,  on 
one  occasion,  to  New  York,  I  heard  that  my  old 
ship,  the  Macedonian,  was  in  port.  Animated 
with  that  regard  for  an  old  ship,  which  always 
inspires  a  genuine  seaman,  I  went  on  Doard.  She 
was  so  altered,  I  scarcely  recognised  her.  Change, 
with  an  unsparing  hand,  had  remodeled  the  decks 
and  cabins,  so  that  I  felt  somewhat  lost  where 
once  every  timber  was  familiar.  This  was  rather 
a  disappointment ;  however,  I  stood  on  the  spot 
where  I  had  fought  in  the  din  of  battle  ;  and  with 
many  a  serious  reflection  recalled  the  horrors  of 
that  dreadful  scene.  The  sailors,  on  witnessing 
the  care  with  which  I  examined  every  thing,  and 
supposing  me  to  be  a  landsman,  eyed  me  rather 
closely.  Seeing  their  curiosity,  I  said,  "  Ship- 
mates, I  have  seen  this  vessel  before  to-day  : 
probably  before  any  of  you  ever  did." 


284 


A   VOICE    FROM   '^IIE    MAIN   DECK. 


The  old  tars  gathered  round  me,  eagerly  listen- 
ing to  my  tale  of  the  hattle,  and  they  bore 
patiently,  and  with  becoming  gravity,  the  exhor- 
tation to  lead  a  religious  life,  with  which  I  closed 
my  address.  They  appeared  to  be  very  suscep- 
tible of  religious  feeling;  as,  indeed,  sailors  are 
generally.  Should  any  doubt  this  fact,  let  them 
hear  the  Rev.  Mr.  Chase,  in  New  York,  or  Rev. 
E.  T.  Taylor,  in  Boston,  in  whose  usually  crowded 
houses  of  worship,  the  face  of  the  rough,  weather- 
beaten  son  of  the  ocean  may  be  seen  bedewed 
with  penitential  tears  ;  especially  at  the  church 
of  the  latter  gentleman — than  whom  none  know 
better  how  to  adapt  discourse  to  a  sailor's  soul. 

During  the  flight  of  these  years  a  constant  cor- 
respondence had  been  kept  up  between  me  and 
my  mother.  She  had  constantly  urged  me  lo 
revisit  my  native  land.  To  remove  the  last 
obstacle,  she  addressed  a  letter  to  Lady  Churchill, 
to  ascertain  if  I  might  safely  return.  She  sent 
her  the  following  note,  the  original  of  which  is 
still  in  my  possession  : 


R 


Lower  Brook  Street, 
Nov.  7,  1821. 

Mrs.  Newman, — 

I  consulted  my  brother  William  upon  the  sub- 
ject on  which  you  wished  for  advice,  as  neither 
Lord  C.  nor  myself  could  undertake  to  answer 
your  inquiry  ;  and  I  am  glad  to  hear  from  him  the 
following  explanation  in  reply :  "  There  is  nothing 


?.rhj  listen- 
they  bore 
the  exhor- 
:h  I  closed 
ry  suscep- 
sailors  are 
t,  let  them 
•k,  or  Rev. 
ly  crowded 
1,  weather- 
1  bedewed 
he  church 
lone  know 
r's  soul, 
nstant  cor- 
;n  me  and 
^ed  me  lo 
B  the  last 
Churchill, 
She  sent 
f  which  is 


i  Street, 
7,  1821. 


n  the  sub- 
as  neither 
to  answer 
)m  him  the 
t  is  nothing 


SIX   YEAUS    IN    A    MAN    OF    WAR. 


285 


to  prevent  Mrs.  Newman's  son  from  coming 
home  ;  for  when  the  war  ivas  terminated,  he  was 
safe,  even  if  he  had  entered  into  the  enemy's 
service  ;  but  he  will  of  course  forfeit  the  pay  and 
any  prize  money  duo  to  him." 

*=  =^  #  :?(:  # 

I  am,  much  yours, 

F.  Churchill. 

This  note  relieved  me  of  all  foar,  but  now  it 
had  become  no  small  undertaking  for  me  to  go  to 
Europe.  To  go  alone  would  be  very  expensive; 
but  to  take  my  Aimily,  consisting  now  of  a  wife 
and  three  children,  was  much  more  so.  Hence,  I 
put  it  off  year  after  year,  still  writing  and  beg- 
ging them  to  visit  me.  When  the  late  lamented 
Dr.  Fisk  was  in  England,  he  visited  my  mother 
and  brother,  and  related  to  them  some  of  the  facts 
in  my  life,  which  he  had  often  heard  me  mention. 
She  sent  me  two  silver  table  spoons,  which  had 
belonged  to  my  father,  by  the  Doctor's  hands. 
My  mother  wrote  about  this  visit  of  that  "  great, 
good  man  "  with  evident  satisfaction. 

At  last,  I  received  a  letter  from  home,  which 
decided  me  to  undertake  the  often  postponed  and 
long  delayed  voyage  to  my  native  land.  This 
letter  stated  that  there  was  a  young  man  in 
Albany,  with  whose  friends  they  were  all  well 
acquainted,  and  that  he  was  about  to  visit  his 
mother.  I  found  this  gentleman,  whose  name 
was   "William   Warrington,   and  agreed   to  join 


286 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


him  with  my  family  in  his  intended  voyage. 
This  agreement  made,  we  set  about  making  pre- 
parations for  the  undertaking.  If  the  reader 
desires  to  know  the  events  of  that  visit,  he  must 
consult  the  ensuing  chapter. 


> 


ed  voyage. 

Tiaking  pre- 

the   reader 

sit,  he  must 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

Departure  from  home— A  cabin  in  the  George  Washington 
—Cheated  by  the  cook— The  packet  sails— A  day's  expe- 
rience from  my  journal— Religious  service  on  Sabbath 
—Arrival  at  Liverpool— The  custom-house,  Liverpool 
—Journey  to  Staflbrd — The  hackmen— Meeting  with 
my  sister— Election  day  in  Staflbrd— Stafford— Re- 
mains  of  a  baronial  castle— St.  Mary's  church— The 

poor-house — A  good  custom — Beggars  and  poverty 

Drunkenness— Beer,  a  hindrance  to  the  temperance 
cause— Departure  from  Stafford— Arrival  at  Bladen— 
Meeting  with  my  mother— A  happy  family  party- 
Visit  to  Oxford— Description  of  the  town— Great  Tom- 
Mr.  Wesley's  room  at  college— The  martyr's  stones- 
Departure  from  Bladen— Arrival  at  London— Trip  to 
Walthamstow  and  Wanstead— A  visit  to  the  city  road 
chapel— Tombs  of  Wesley,  Clarke,  Benson,  Bunyan, 
and  Watts— Condition  of  the  English  poor— Taxation- 
Expenses  of  royalty— Departure  for  Boston— Long 
passage— Safe  arrival— Cloying  remarks  to  the  reader 
— Note — My  mother's  death. 

Weighed  down  under  a  pressure  of  despon- 
dency, arising  partly  from  temporary  illness,  and 
partly  from  the  greatness  of  the  enterprise  I  had 
undertaken,  and  whose  event  was  so  uncertain,  I 
left  Wilbraham  on  Thursday  morning,  June  3d, 
1841.  A  pleasant  passage,  by  the  way  of  Spring- 
field and  Hartford,  brought  us  into  New  York 


im 


a 


288 


A    VOICE    FROM   THE    M7\IN    DECK. 


^k    I 


L'   I 


H 


■ 


early  the  next  morning.  By  the  following  Mon- 
day, the  7th  of  June,  we  were  all  snugly  stowed 
in  a  state-room  of  the  second  cabin  on  board  the 
splendid  packet-ship,  George  Washington,  bound 
for  Liverpool. 

Before  we  sailed,  however,  I  was  fleeced  of 
seven  dollars  by  the  cook  of  the  ship.  As  pas- 
"  sengers  in  the  second  cabin,  we  had  the  privilege 
of  furnishing  ourselves  with  provisions.  For  the 
sum  just  mentioned,  the  cook  had  agreed  to  do 
all  our  cooking  at  the  galley,  insisting,  however, 
J  on  being  paid  in  advance,  because,  he  averred, 
several  passengers,  on  former  occasions,  had  ob- 
tained his  services  and  failed  to  pay  him ;  besides, 
he  wanted  to  leave  all  the  money  he  could  with 
his  wife.  These  arguments  were,  of  course,  un- 
answerable, and  I  paid  him  the  sum  demanded. 
Judge,  then,  of  my  surprise,  when,  a  few  minutes 
before  we  hauled  off,  the  captain  engaged  another 
cook ;  the  first  having  suddenly  made  himself 
among  the  missing.  Should  the  reader  ever  have 
occasion  to  voyage,  he  may  profit  by  the  remem- 
brance of  this  anecdote. 

We  then  hauled  off  into  the  stream ;  towed  by 
a  steamboat,  we  soon  cleared  the  harbor  of  New 
York.  Sandy  Hook  speedily  lay  behind  us ;  the 
pilot  wished  us  a  pleasant  voyage,  and  away  we 
dashed  into  the  wide  Atlantic,  buoyed  up  by  the 
confidence  of  the  hope  that  a  few  weeks  would 
behold  us  safely  landed  on  the  shores  of  dear  old 
England. 


(wing  Mon- 
igly  stowed 
n  board  the 
gton,  bound 

fleeced  of 
p.  As  pas- 
le  privilege 
s.  For  the 
jrecd  to  do 
g,  however, 
he  averred, 
ins,  had  ob- 
m;  besides, 

could  with 
course,  un- 

demanded. 
ew  minutes 
ged  another 
de  himself 
ir  ever  have 
the  remem- 

L ;  towed  by 
bor  of  New 
ind  us ;  the 
id  away  we 
I  up  by  the 
eeks  would 
of  dear  old 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A    MAN   OF   WAR. 


289 


The  details  of  a  voyage  across  the  Atlantic 
have  been  so  often  laid  before  the  public  by  trav- 
ellers, that  they  have  now  lost  most  of  that 
interest  which  they  would  possess  were  they  less 
familiar.  1  shall  not,  therefore,  detain  the  reader 
with  the  particulars  of  my  passage,  except  to  quote 
the  experience  of  one  day  from  my  journal. 

Saturday,  June  12th.     Went  on  deck  early  in 
the  morning ;   found  it  very  warm.     We  passed 
two  ships  on  the  same  course  with  ourselves.     I 
saw  a  rainbow  on  our  starboard  quarter,  which 
reminded  me   of  the   old   saying  among  sailors, 
"  Rainbow  in  the  morning,  sailors  take  warnino-." 
It  was  then  blowing  a  stiff  breeze  from  the  west. 
All  the  sails  were  up,  studding  sails  out  below 
and  aloft.     The  wind  increased  during  the  morn- 
ing, with  rain.     We  soon  had  heavy  thunder,  with 
sharp  lightning  ;  the  weather  growing  squally,  we 
took  in  our  studding  sails.     Passed  another  ship ; 
wind  increasing  with  violent  rain. 

One  o'clock,  P.  M.  Sailors  have  plenty  to  do 
to  shorten  sail.  Furled  top-gallant  sails,  reefed 
mizen  topsail,  fore  topsail,  and  main  topsail.  We 
are  running  before  the  wind  like  a  race-horse,  at 
the  rate  of  twelve  knots  an  hour. 

Two  o'clock,  P.  M.  More  thunder  and  light- 
ning, which  threatened  vengeance  on  our  poor 
ship.  The  lightning  is  very  sharp ;  we  have  no 
conductor  up ;  it  plays  all  around  us,  and,  as  it 
strikes  the  water,  it  hisses  like  red-hot  iron.  Sev- 
eral of  the  sailors  felt  a  shock  in  descending  the 
25 


290 


A    VOICE    FROM    THE    MAIN    DECK. 


Tigging,  especially  the  first  and  second  mates. 
We  expected  it  would  strike  us  every  moment, 
but  a  kind  Providence  protected  us.  The  sea 
runs  very  high,  and  the  ship  flies  about  as  if 
crazy.  We  liave  two  men  at  the  helm,  who  can 
scarcely  keep  her  riglit ;  it  seems  that  she  will 
pitch  under  every  moment. 

Eight  and  one-half  o'clock,  P.  M.  Sea  still  roll- 
ing heavily  ;  we  have  shipped  several  heavy  seas. 

Nine  o'clock,  P.  M.  Wind  has  shifted,  and  the 
weather  is  clearing  oil'. 

During  the  whole  of  this  gale,  many  of  the  pas- 
sengers were  much  alarmed,  and  some  of  them 
spent  their  time  in  praying  and  crying  to  the 
Lord.  How  strange  that  men  will  leave  their 
eternal  interests  to  an  hour  of  danger,  and  forget 
them  again  the  moment  it  passes  away ! 

The  first  Sabbath  of  our  life  at  i^ea,  by  permis- 
sion of  Captain  Barrows — who,  by  the  way,  was  a 
very  gentlemanly,  kind  commander — I  held  a 
religious  meeting  on  the  quarter  or  poop-deck. 
My  audience  contained  all  the  cabin  passengers, 
with  most  of  those  in  the  steerage,  the  captain 
and  his  mates,  together  with  most  of  the  crew.  I 
told  them  I  was  not  a  parson,  but  I  would  talk 
to  them  as  well  as  I  could.  After  singing  and 
prayer,  I  spoke  from  Jonah  i.  6 ;  alluding, 
among  other  things,  to  the  late  storm,  and  ex- 
horting them  not  to  trust  to  storm  religion,  but  to 
become  the  followers  of  God  from  genuine  prin- 
ciple.    My  audience  favored  me  with  profound 


K. 

ond  mates. 
•y  moment, 
The  sea 
[ibout  as  if 
m,  who  can 
at  she  will 

ea  still  roll- 
heavy  seas, 
ed,  and  the 

'  of  the  paa- 
ne  of  them 
'iug  to  the 
leave  their 
,  and  forget 
rl 

by  permis- 
way,  was  a 
~I  held  a 
poop-deck, 
passengers, 
the  captain 
he  crew.  I 
would  talk 
singing  and 
;  alluding, 
m,  and  ex- 
gion,  but  to 
nuine  priri- 
;h  profound 


SIX    YEARS    IN   A    MAN    OF    WAR. 


291 


attention.  Whether  they  were  benefitted  or  not, 
the  groat  day  must  determine.  It  was  in  this  same 
ship  that  the  eloquent  Robert  Newton  returned  to 
England.  Jle  favored  her  crew  and  passengers, 
every  Sabbath  of  the  voyage,  with  one  of  his 
excellent  and  powerful  discourses. 

The  following  Sabbaths,  owing  to  the  weather 
and  adverse  circum.stances,  I  contented  myself 
with  distributing  tracts  and  with  discoursing  per- 
sonally with  the  passengers  and  crew. 

On  the  2(k\\  of  June,  w(!  saw  the  Irish  coast 
on  our  weather-beam,  and  on  the  evening  of  the 
27th,  we  came  to  an  anchor  off  Liverpool,  after 
a  short  passage  of  twenty  days.  Here,  a  steam- 
boat came  alongside,  bringing  several  custom- 
house officers,  who  came  on  board,  and  carrying 
our  cabin  passengers  ashore.  The  next  morning 
we  hauled  into  the  magnificent  docks  of  this  cele- 
brated city  of  commerce,  where  our  baggage  was 
landed  under  the  spacious  sheds  that  surround 
the  wharves.  From  thence  it  was  conveyed,  in 
small  carts,  drawn  by  donkies,  to  the  custom- 
house for  inspection.  This  tedious  process  over, 
the  passengers  separated,  each  bound  to  his  re- 
spective home;  for,  having  passed  the  ordeal  of  the 
custom-house,  every  man  is  left  at  full  liberty  to 
go  whither  he  pleases.  I  and  my  family  pro- 
ceeded to  a  tavern,  contrasting,  as  we  went  along, 
the  dark,  dingy  aspect  of  Liverpool,  everywhere 
discolored  by  the  fumes  of  coal-smoke,  with  the 
light,  cheerful  aspect  of  our  American  cities ;  and 


^^^ 


r!^ 


OQO 


A    VOICK    FROM    TIIR    MAIN    DKCK. 


4 


I'lK,     I 


giving  the  prot'oriMice?  to  the  latter,  notwithstand- 
ing my  Kni^lislj  j)r('jiulioes. 

The  next  inorning  we  all  look  seats  in  the  rail- 
road cars  lor  StalTord,  some  jjeventy  miles  distant 
from  Liverpool.  After  passing  tliroiigh  tiic  tun- 
nel, under  the  city,  ol  more  than  a  mile  in  length, 
we  emerg(Ml  into  a  heautifnl  country,  adorned  on 
all  sides  with  a!iti<|ue  buildings  and  mnil  scenery. 
These  passed  before  us  like  the  scenes  in  a  jJMno- 
rama,  and,  by  ten  o'clock,  A.  M.,  we  reached  the 
stopping-place,  a  short  distance^  from  Stafford. 
Here  we  were  lit-^rally  in  danger  of  being  torn 
asunder  by  the  eagerness  of  two  hackmen,  who, 
as  we  were  the  only  passengers  left  at  the  depot, 
were  especially  zealous  for  our  patronage.  A 
police  oflicer,  one  of  whom  is  stationed  at  every 
depot  on  the  road,  speedily  relieved  us  from  their 
importunity.  Stepping  up,  he  asked  me  which 
man  I  would  employ.  Pointing  to  one  of  them, 
the  other  dropped  my  baggage,  and  in  a  few 
minutes,  we  were  at  the  door  of  my  brother-in- 
law,  Mr.  William  Tills. 

Although  I  had  not  seen  my  sister  for  thirty 
years,  yet,  no  sooner  did  she  see  me,  than,  throw- 
i^ ,  ing  her  arms  around  my  neck,  she  exclaimed, 
"  Oh,  my  brother!"  I  need  not  add,  that  our  re- 
ception was  cordial,  and  our  stay  with  them  char- 
acterized by  every  trait  of  genuine  hospitality. 

The  town  was  alive  with  the  bustle  of  an  elec- 
tion ;  flags  and  streamers  were  floating  over  every 
tavern-sign  and  public  building.      Men,  women 


L'K, 


SIX    YEAHS   IN    A    MAN    OP    WAR. 


293 


:)t\vit.hstand- 

i  in  the  rail- 

nili's  (listniit 
iirh  llic  lun- 
\{i  in  Icnji^th, 
adorned  on 
nil  sctMicry. 
s  in  a  i)Mno- 
reached  the 
!!!    Slafford. 

being  torn 
kinen,  wlio, 
t  the  depot, 
ronasTc.  A 
led  at  every 
s  from  their 

me  which 
lie  of  them, 
I  in  a  few 
'  brother-in- 

r  for  thirty 
han,  throw- 
exclaimed, 
that  our  re- 
them  char- 
>pitality. 
of  an  elec- 
^  over  every 
[en,  women 


and  children  crowch'd  tlic    t-'eets,  flushed  with  the 
excitement   of  ])fjrty  rivalry,  while  the  continual 
pealiiiir  ol'  |||(.  |j(.l|s  achled  a  vivacity  and  liveliness 
to   the   scene,  of  wliich  an   American,   who  has 
never  heard  the  merry  dinj^-dong  of  a  full  peal  of 
heliss,  can  form  no  adequate  C()nce])tion.     By  five 
o'clock  that  afternoon,  the   polls  closed,  and  the 
ceremony   of  chniriiiLT  the   successful  candidates 
took  place.     First  came  a  hand  of  music,  playing 
lively    airs  ;    next    followed    the    members    elect, 
richly   dressed,  with   ribbons  on   their  hats,  and 
seated  on   chairs  wreallicd  wi'h  flowers  and  rib- 
bons, and  surrounded  wit'.i  banners  bearing  vari- 
ous devices.     These  chairs  were  borne  on  men's 
shoulders,    who    proceeded    through    the    streets, 
amid    immense    clieering   from   the   crowds  who 
followed,  and   from  the  ladies  and  citizens,  who 
appeared    waving    their    handkerchiefs  from   the 
windows  ;  the  members,  meanwhile,  bowing,  with 
their  hats  in  their  hands,  until  they  reached  the 
spot  where  their  chaises  waited  to  convey  them 
to  their  respective  hoines.     The  sight  was  one  of 
great  interest  to  a  stranger,  and   I  advise  every 
American   who  visits   England,  by  all  means,  to 
witnjss  an  election  day  if  possible. 

We  remained  with  my  brother-in-law  about  a 
week,  visiting  the  various  places  and  buildings 
whose  antiquity  or  public  character  clothed  them 
with  especial  interest.  The  town  itself  contains 
about  eleven  hundred  inhabitants,  and  is  the  shire 
town  of  the  county  of  Staffordshire.  Its  chief  busi- 
25^ 


m 


291 


A    VOICE    FROM    THE    MAIN    DECK. 


ill 


ncss  is  the  mnnufactnro  of  shoos.  Amonjx  its 
ancient  buildinns,  art^  iho  nMnains  of  a  baronial 
castle,  whose  moss-covered  battlements  insensibly 
conduct  the  meditations  of  the  beholder  back  to 
the  days  of  feudal  o^nindcnir  and  knip^htly  chiv- 
alry. St.  Mary's  Church  is  also  a  venerable 
Gothic  structure,  of  solid  masonry,  whose  walls 
have  withstood  the  storms  and  chani^n's  (>f  about 
ten  centuries.  They  were  about  to  expend 
£10,000  in  repairing-  the  dilapidations  of  time.  I 
heard  one  discourse  from  t\\o.  curate,  and  was  es- 
pecially deli^rhted  with  the  grandcuir  and  sublimity 
of  the  music  from  its  maijfniliccmt  orphan,  as  it 
pealed  alona;  the  aisles  of  the  time-worn  buildinjr, 
with  an  effect  never  witnessed  in  our  smaller  and 
more  modern  structures  in  America. 

Here  also  is  the  county  prisvm,  modelled,  in 
most  of  its  arranofements,  after  the  state-prisons  of 
America.  It  contained  live  hundred  prisoners. 
A  lunatic  asylum  and  a  hospital,  or  infirmary,  for 
the  poor,  are  found  amoncf  the  products  of  its  be- 
nevolence :  the  former  contained  three  hundred 
unfortunate  occupants. 

The  poor-house  is  a  large  commodious  building", 
constructed  of  brick  and  stone,  surrounded  with 
large  airy  yards  and  gardens.  It  has  also  yards 
or  courts  within  its  walls,  used  as  play-grounds  for 
the  children.  The  order  within  was  excellent; 
every  room  looked  remarkably  neat  and  clean ; 
the  children  were  comfortably  clothed,  and  wore 
an  air   of   satisfaction   and  contentment.      The 


.    ^  '  i 


CK. 


SIX    YEARS    IN    A    MAN    OF    WAR. 


295 


Amonn:  its 
if  a  hamninl 
Ls  insensibly 
fider  back  to 
iipfbtly  cbiv- 
a  viMierablo 
whoso  walls 
[T"os  of  about 

to    expend 
s  of  time.     I 

and  was  es- 
nd  sublimity 
orci^an,  as  it 
orn  building", 
•  smaller  and 

modelled,  in 
ite-prisons  of 
?d  prisoners, 
infirmary,  for 
cts  of  its  be- 
irce  hundred 

ous  building", 
•ounded  with 
as  also  yards 
y-grounds  for 
as  excellent; 
t  and  clean; 
ed,  and  wore 
;ment.      The 


whole  house  was  under  the  control  of  a  g"overnor 
and  matron,  who  werci  subject  to  the  inspection  of 
the  board  of  overseers,  chosen  by  the  people. 
One  excellent  ruhj  of  th(»  house  struck  me  as 
being  very  useful :  it  provided  for  the  admission 
of  poor  travellers  to  a  supper  and  lodging;  re- 
quiring them,  if  dirty,  to  undergo  a  thorough  ablu- 
tion and  to  change  their  linen.  In  the  morninir 
two  or  three  hours'  work  was  exacted  as  payment, 
and  they  were  sulfered  to  depart.  The  house 
had  its  teacher  and  chaplain ;  and  altogether  I 
thought  that  a  gr(>at  improvement  had  taken 
place  in  the  poor-laws  of  th(!  courUry. 

Having  been  so  long  away  from  England, 
everything  peculiarly  English  struck  me  with 
almost  as  much  force  as  it  would  a  native  Ameri- 
can. Hence,  my  feelings  revolted  at  the  sight  of 
the  innumeral)le  beggars  and  vagrants,  who 
crowded  the  streets.  Italians,  with  their  orgfans, 
Avhite  mice,  or  monkeys  ;  poor  barefooted  children, 
with  their  baskets  of  matches  ;  and,  worse  than 
cither,  houseless  families  imploring  a  crust  for 
their  half-naked  little  ones,  with  many  a  tale  of 
sorrow  and  wo,  were  sights  which  greeted  my 
eye  and  pained  my  heart  every  day.  A  sad  spec- 
tacle indeed,  and  one  which  robs  the  lustre  of  the 
British  crown  of  many  a  brilliant  ray.  The  true 
glory  of  a  people  is  their  internal  prosperity,  and 
not  the  extension  of  their  territory. 

The  fifth  of  July  renewed  the  excitement  of  the 
day  I  arrived.     It  was  tiie  time  appointed  for  the 


* 


296 


A    VOICE   FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


^Km:'  ■ 

If 

^^K  :' .' 

|. 

^D-  ' 

!'! 

■  :' 

^^Mtm 

^ 

^1 

P 

lik^ 

■^- 

county  election.  Similar  scenes  to  those  before 
described  took  place,  accompanied  with  excessive 
drunkenness.  Every  tavern,  and  the  number 
seemed  endless,  was  crowded,  mostly  with  the 
•laboring  classes,  who  were  spending  their  hard- 
earned  pence,  for  foaming  tankards  of  English 
ale,  the  favorite  beverage  of  John  Bull,  and  one 
of  the  greatest  hindrances  to  the  progress  of  the 
temperance  cause  in  that  country ;  though  it  is 
hoped  that  the  triumphs  of  tee-totalism  will  ulti- 
mately overcome  this  national  love  for  John  Bar- 
leycorn, as  beer  is  humorously  called  in  the  old 


song. 


After  spending  an  extremely  pleasant  w^ek  m 
Stafford,  we  bade  adieu  to  my  affectionate  sister 
and  her  husband,  and,  aided  by  omnipotent  steam, 
we  soon  reached  the  great  manufactory  of  Brit- 
ain— Birmingham.  From  thence  we  took  stage 
for  Woodstock,  subject,  however,  to  the  inces- 
sant exactions  of  the  host  of  waiters,  guards 
and  coachmen,  that  constantly  assail  the  traveller 
in  England,  with  a  request  to  be  "remembered" 
for  every  little  service  rendered.  The  country 
through  which  we  rode  was  delightful ;  all  nature 
wore  her  greenest,  brightest  garments ;  the  roads 
were  level,  an  J  as  smooth  as  the  most  thorough 
Macadamizing  could  make  them.  Soon  after 
seven  in  the  evening,  the  stage  drew  up  at  the 
Marlborough  Arms,  the  very  hotel  from  whence  I 
started  thirty  years  since  to  go  to  sea.  The  first 
object  that  arrested  my  eye,  was  the  revered  form 


)se  before 
excessive 
number 
with   the 
leir  hard- 
English 
,  and  one 
iss  of  the 
ugh  it  is 
will  ulti- 
[ohn  Bar- 
n  the  old 

wiek  in 

late  sister 
3nt  steam, 
y  of  Brit- 
took  stage 
the  inces- 
s,  guards 
3  traveller 
embered  " 
e  country 
all  nature 
the  roads 
thorough 
loon  after 
up  at  the 

whence  I 
mu„  c — «. 

rered  form 


SIX   YEARS   IN   A   MAN    OF   WAR. 


297 


of  my  mother,  waiting  on  the  sidewalk,  eager  to 
embrace  her  much-loved,  but  long-absent  son. 
Springing  to  the  ground,  I  felt  myself  locked  in 
her  fond  embrace.  That  was  a  moment  of  exquis- 
ite enjoyment,  both  to  me  and  to  my  mother. 
Though  deeply  moved,  she  maintained  a  calm 
dignity  of  manner.  In  a  few  moments,  she  was 
showing  the  way,  with  the  agility  of  a  young 
woman,  leading  a  new-found  grand-child  in  each 
hand,  to  her  residence,  which  was  close  at  hand. 
Very  soon  we  were  all  seated  round  the  well- 
loaded  board,  the  happiest  family  party  in  the 
world. 

Though  it  afforded  me  and  my  family  great 
pleasure  to  visit  scenes  round  Woodstock  and 
Bladen,  which  had  been  familiar  to  me  in  my 
boyhood,  yet,  as  the  description  would  only  prove 
tedious  to  the  reader,  it  is  omitted.  A  brief  ac- 
count of  our  visit  to  Oxford,  so  celebrated  for  its 
university  and  colleges,  may  not  be  uninteresting. 

Oxford  contains  nineteen  colleges  and  five 
halls.  Of  these,  we  visited  only  Christ  Church 
and  Lincoln  colle"-es.  Christ  Church  is  the  larof- 
est  college  in  Oxford.  We  were  forcibly  struck 
with  the  magnificence  of  the  octagonal  tower, 
which  is  over  the  principal  gateway.  It  has  a 
dome  top,  and  is  ornamented  in  the  Gothic  style, 
from  designs  by  that  renowned  architect,  Sir 
Christopher  W^ren.     It  is  also  remarkable  as  con- 

4.-1.-: 4.u_     ^„l„i, —  i._J    1 — 11      1  — ,, 1,,,    fV-     *" 

icliiiiiig     liHJ     CCivJUiULuQ    uuii,     ii-iiOwii     uy     Inis     la- 

miliar   name   of  "  Great   Tom,"    and   weighing 


ill' 


298 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN   DECK. 


it 


■'I 


t 
■if' 


17,000  pounds.  It  is  7  feet  1  inch  in  diameter,  6 
feet  9  inches  high,  6J  irtches  in  thickness.  I  got 
under  this  massive  piece  of  metal,  and  found  abun- 
dant room  to  move  about ;  by  standing  on  the  clap- 
per I  could  reach  the  top  over  my  head.  This  is 
the  largest  bell  in  England;  though  Russia  con- 
tains several  of  a  much  larger  size.  I  also  grati- 
fied myself  by  a  survey  of  the  splendid  picture 
galleries  and  the  spacious  library,  the  former 
containing  some  of  the  fmest  specimens  of  paint- 
ing in  the  country,  and  the  latter  a  large  and 
valuable  collection  of  books,  manuscripts,  prints, 
coins,  &c. 

I  made  inquiries  of  our  attendant  for  the  room 
in  which  Charles  Wesley  studied  while  a  mem- 
ber of  this  college  ;  but,  although  quite  communi- 
*cative  on  other  subjects,  he  manifested  a  peculiar 
sensitiveness  on  this ;  and  I  declined  pressing  the 
question.  After  quitting  the  college,  happening 
to  pass  the  residence  of  the  Wesley  an  minister, 
Mr.  Rodgers,  I  called  upon  him,  and  related  to 
him  how  the  porter  avoided  my  questions.  He 
smiled,  and  said  that  they  regarded  the  Wesleys 
as  dissenters,  and  would  therefore  do  them  no 
honor.  Mr.  Rodgers  was  extremely  obliging; 
he  conducted  us  over  his  beautiful  chapel,  and 
then  bore  us  company  to  Lincoln  college,  where 
he  pointed  out  the  room  in  which  John  Wesley 
studied  when  a  member  of  this  institution.  He 
also  showed  us  the  other  localities  of  Oxford, 
made  sacred  to  me  by  their  association  with  the 


K. 

diameter,  6 
ess.  I  got 
bund  abun- 
3n  the  clap- 
J.  This  is 
Russia  con- 
L  also  grati- 
did  picture 
the  former 
IS  of  paint- 
large  and 
ipts,  prints, 

)r  the  room 
ile  a  mem- 
5  communi- 
l  a  peculiar 
)ressing  the 
happening 
m  minister, 
I  related  to 
stions.  He 
he  Wesleys 
lo  them  no 
\r  obliging; 
chapel,  and 
lege,  where 
3hn  Wesley 
tution.     He 


_  r 
Oi 


)n  with  the 


SIX   YEARS   IN    A   MAN   OF   WAR. 


299 


person  of  Wesley's  grandfather,  the  preaching  of 
the  Wcslcys  themselves,  and  the  studies  of  Dr. 
Coke,  the  great  missionary  hero  of  the  Methodist 
church. 

He  then  led  us  into  Broad  street,  to  the  conse- 
crated spot  where  Latimer,  Ridley  and  Cranmer 
sealed  their  faith  by  enduring  a  martyr's  death. 
Three  stones  mark  the  spot  where  their  ashes 
fell;  and  never  did  I  feel  a  holier  feeling  than  that 
which  thrilled  my  heart,  while  I  and  my  family 
vStood  on  those  time-worn  stones :  the  spirits  of 
the  martyrs  seemed  to  hover  around  us,  breathing 
the  same  high,  religious  determination  into  our 
minds  that  filled  their  own  bold  and  daring  spirits. 
That  moment  amply  repaid  us  for  all  the  toil  of 
our  journey  home. 

The  following  Sabbath  I  attended  the  chapels 
of  the  Wesleyans  at  Woodstock  and  Bladen,  and 
in  the  evening  had  the  pleasure  of  saying  a  word 
to  my  old  Bladen  associates,  in  the  prayer-meet- 


mg. 


After  receiving  the  utmost  kindness,  hospitality 
and  evidences  of  friendship  from  my  family  and 
friends,  I  took  leave  of  them  forever.  Many  of 
the  neighbors,  with  my  mother,  accompanied  me 
to-  Woodstock.  There  I  wished  her  adieu,  and 
when  the  coach  whirled  away,  she  stood  following 
us  with  her  eyes,  the  last  of  the  company,  until  a 
projection  of  the  park  wall  hid  us  from  each 
other.  Who  could  forbear  a  te&.r  in  such  a  mo- 
ment ?    I  could  not,  and  therefore  suffered  the  big: 


III 


300 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN    DECK. 


drops  to  roll  down  my  cheeks  at  '.vill.     There  is 
a  luxury  in  such  grief. 

That  evening  beheld  us  rolling  through  Hyde 
Park  into  the  city  of  London,  where  I  tarried  a 
few  days  with  my  brother,  by  whom  I  was  very 
cordially  entertained.  Here  also  I  found  several 
cousins,  in  prosperous  circumstances,  whose  kind- 
ness contributed  not  a  little  to  my  enjoyment. 
Having  visited  St.  Pauls,  tho  Museum,  Madame 
Tassard's  magnificent  collection  of  wax  figures, 
and  other  curious  and  remarkable  places,  I  took  a 
trip  to  Walthamstow,  the  former  residence  of 
my  aunt  Turner.  This  good  lady  was  dead,  and 
almost  forgotten  by  the  people  ;  her  twenty-two 
children  were  all  either  dead  or  wandering,  the 
neighbors  knew  not  whither.  Alas  for  the  muta- 
tions of  time ! 

A  walk  of  two  miles  farther  on,  brought  us  to 
Wanstead,  my  birth-place.  Here  everything 
seemed  natural,  though  great  changes  had  passed 
over  the  people  since  I  lived  there,  a  thoughtless 
child.  My  common  school  teacher  and  my  Sun- 
day school  teacher  had  both  gone  to  their  spiritual 
destiny.  My  aunt  was  yet  alive.  My  brother 
asked  her  if  she  knew^  me.  Peering  through  her 
spectacles,  and  summoning  up  the  imagery  of  the 
past,  she  at  length  called  to  mind  her  former 
prctoge,  and  clasped  me  to  her  arms,  with  evident 
gratification.  It  occasions  melancholy  feeling  *to 
see  the  ravages  of  time  on  the  persons  and  places 
one  has  not  visited  for  years ! 


K.' 


SIX   YEARS    IN   A   MAN    OF  WAR. 


301 


There  is 

)ugh  Hyde 
I  tarried  a 
[  was  very 
md  several 
I'hose  kind- 
enjoyment, 
n,  Madame 
rax  fi.qfures, 
es,  I  took  a 
sidence  of 
s  dead,  and 
twenty-two 
idering,  the 
ir  the  muta- 

ouo'ht  us  to 

o 

everything 

had  passed 

thousrhtless 

ad  my  Sun- 

leir  spiritual 

My  brother 

through  her 

igery  of  the 

her  former 

mth.  evident 

y  feeling  *to 

3  and  places 


After  a  hasty  visit  to  that  noble  home  for  the 
worn-out  sailor  at  Greenwich,  and  a  glance  at  the 
arsenal  at  Woolwich,  I  returned  to  London. 

We  next  visited  the  City  Road  Chapel,  built  by 
the  exertions  of  the  great  Wesley  himself.  The 
sexton  told  us  that  when  that  wonderful  man  held 
the  collection  plate,  one  Sabbath,  it  was  thrice 
filled  with  gold  by  the  enthusiastic  generosity  of 
the  congregation :  a  striking  example  of  his  per- 
sonal influence  over  his  hearers.  After  examin- 
ing the  chapel,  I  walked  over  the  parsonage  ad- 
joining, and  while  standing  in  the  room,  where, 
with  his  dying  lips,  the  immortal  founder  of  Meth- 
odism exclaimed,  "  The  best  of  all  is,  God  is  with 
us,"  I  felt  inspired  with  his  great  spirit,  and 
mentally  resolved,  like  him  to  laboriously  live, 
that  like  him  I  might  triumphantly  die.  From 
this  sacred  chamber  I  visited  the  tombs  of  Wesley, 
Clarke,  Benson,  Watson,  Cooper,  and  other  illus- 
trious men  of  the  departed  army  of  faithful  war- 
riors in  the  cause  of  Christ ;  and,  as  I  stood  over 
their  ashes,  my  heart  said  with  Peter  on  the 
mount  of  transfiguration,  "  Master,  it  is  good  for 
me  to  be  here  ! " 

Crossing  the  road  into  Bunhill  fields,  I  stood 
before  the  tombstones  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  Isaac 
Watts,  and  the  less  learned  but  equally  renowned 
John  Bunyan.  Here  the  wicket  gate,  the  wander- 
in*gs  of  the  pilgrim,  the  land  of  Beulah,  and  the 
river  of  death  passed  vividly  before  my  mind's 
eye,  until,  overcome  with  a  rush  of  powerful  feel- 
26 


302 


A    VOKK    FROM    TTIK    MAIN    DKCK. 


i»     < 


I 


I 


injTt  I  wept  nnd  walkrd  nAvny,  a  luMtcr  iimn  than 
when  1  (MiltToil  llioso  .soltMnn  rrstinL»--i)liu*e«  of  the 
glorious  (loud. 

The  tinio  alloltod  for  uiy  visit  Imvinir  nearly 
expired,  iny  mind  beiran  to  look  towards  the  eonn- 
try  of  my  adoption,  tilled  with  a  slronu;  desire 
ono(»  more  to  tread  its  (roe  soil.  Strontif  as  is  the 
love  of  liome,  it  was  not  stron^^  (Mionj^h  to  induce 
a  preference  in  my  mind  for  iMiixland.  America 
hud  hecome  the  dearer  of  the  two.  Indeed,  I  saw 
so  many  unpleasjint  thinpfs  amidst  the  t^randeur 
and  pageantry  of  the  ricli,  that  1  often  felt  dis- 
gusted. Sucli  hosts  of  street  beoirars,  such  troops 
of  poverly-striokon  children,  such  a  mass  of  de- 
graded laborers,  such  enormous  taxation,  made 
me  shrink  from  bearinu:  any  jiart  of  so  great  a 
burden,  and  desire  to  litdc  my  future  destiny  with 
the  rising  fortunes  of  America.  How  the  laborer 
of  England  lives,  with  such  low  wages,  and  such 
high  prices  for  the  staple  commodities  of  life,  is 
above  my  comprehension.  Meat  w'as  from  twelve 
to  twenty-four  cents  per  pound  ;  tea  from  one  to 
two  dollars  ;  collee  from  twenty-live  to  forty  cents, 
and  other  things  in  proportion.  To  this  add  the 
intemperate  habits  of  the  poor,  and  how  they  live 
becomes  a  problem  I  know  not  how  to  solve.  Yet, 
with  all  this  poverty  and  wo,  taxation  is  laid 
upon  the  public  with  merciless  severity,  to  furnish 
means  to  maintain  the  splendor  and  fatten  the 
minions  of  royalty.  First,  they  have  to  pay  the 
annual  interest  of  eight  hundred  million  pounds ; 


c. 


filX    YKAHS    IN    A    MAN   OV    WAR. 


303 


man  than 

nci'n  of  the 

iuLi:  nearly 
s  ilie  conn- 
onu"  (If'sirc 
fr  jia  is  the 
I  to  iiuluco 
Amorica 
Jecd,  I  saw 
3  grandeur 
m  I'elt  d is- 
sue h  troops 
nass  of  de- 
lion,  made 
so  great  a 
ustiny  with 
the  laborer 
s,  and  such 
s  of  life,  is 
Vom  twelve 
'on\  one  to 
forty  cents, 
liis  add  the 
w  they  live 
olve.  Yet, 
ion  is  laid 
{,  to  furnish 
fatten  the 
to  pay  the 
on  pounds ; 


then  come  the  enormous  snlaries  of  the  monarch 
and  the  .snlcjjiivs  of  \\w  ihrone.     The  cjueen,  for 
her  privjile  purse,  Ims  I.IO.OOO  pounds  ;   the  (pieen 
dowa.irer,  1()(),()0()  pounds;  J>riric(>  Alhert,  .•jO,()()0 
poinuis  ;     the    f.ord     Iljnh    (Miiincellor,    5>0,00() 
pounds ;     the    JJishops,    :ni    aveniL|-e    of    20,000 
pounds    each.       HesiiK's    these,   follow    sinecures 
and    pensions   innumenihle,    until    the   resources 
of  the  nation  iire  prc^yed  on  by  the  throne,  with 
the  unsatisfied  nppetite  of  llx;  prnve — takinjr  nil, 
and  still  cryin<r,  "  tri ve,  trive  ! "     1  fdt  happy,  when 
beholdin^r  these  thin^^rs,  that   Providence  had,  after 
many  trials  in  early  life,  cnst  my  lot  in  America. 
On   the  25th   of  Autrust,   we   all    sailed   from 
London,  in  the  cabin  of  a  fine  ship,  commanded 
by   Captain    Eld  ridge,  bound    for    Boston.     The 
particulars    of   our    stormy    and    tedious    voyage 
would  neither  gratify  nor  annise  the  reader,  and 
they  are  therefore  omitted.     Suffice  it  to  say,  that 
the  Atlantic  passage  could  scarcely  be  more  un- 
pleasant than  it  was  to  us ;  but,  by  the  care  of 
divine  Providence,  after  being  seventy-five  days 
at   sea,  exposed    to   every  variety  of  wind  and 
weather,  dejirived   of  religious    advantages,  and 
surrounded  only  by  the  ungodly,  we  safely  landed, 
and    found   comfortable    quarters  at   the    United 
States  Hotel,  in  Boston.     From  thence  we  pro- 
ceeded  to   Worcester,  and    then    to   Wilbraham, 
where  we  were  hailed  with  joyful  congratulations 
by  our  neighbors,  who  had  begun  to  mourn  us  as 


il 


304 


A   VOICE    FROM   THE    MAIN    DECK. 


among  the  lost  at  sea.  Most  ^rrate fully  did  we 
all  unle  with  the  minister,  the  following  Sabbath, 
in  a  thank-offering  to  Almighty  God,  for  his 
goodness  in  preserving  us  from  the  dangers  of 

the  stormy  sea. 

Thus,  courteous  reader,  I  have  conducted  thee 
through  the  mazes  of  my  changetul  life.  Should 
the  facts  detailed  in  these  pages  lead  thee  to  feel 
more  interest  hereafter  in  the  elevation  of  the 
sailor,  my  labors  will  not  have  been  in  vain  ;  and 
should  the  recital  of  my  Christian  experience 
induce  thee  to  embrace  the  same  Saviour,  who  has 
become  my  redemption  and  sacrifice,  I  shall  joy- 
fully hail  thee,  when  we  meet  together  in  the 
port  of  eternity.  » 

To  my  brothers  of  the  sea,  let  me  add  one  word. 
Yours  is  a  life  of  danger,  of  toil,  of  suffering. 
Few  men  care  for  your  souls ;  but  Jesus  regards 
you.  He  watches  you  in  all  your  wanderings ; 
he  woos  you  to  be  his !  Will  you  not  be  per- 
suaded, by  a  fellow-sailor,  to  heed  his  voice.  0 
sailor,  "  Turn,  turn,  for  why  will  ye  die  ! "  Go  ! 
rest  in  His  bosom,  who  says  to  you,  "  Come  unto 
me  all  ye  that  are  weary  and  heavy  laden,  and  I 
will  give  you  rest." 

Note.  Since  the  foregoing  pages  were  written,  I  have 
received  a  letter  announcing  my  mother's  death.  Peace 
to  her  beloved  ashes !  May  I  meet  her  when  I  arrive  m 
heaven !  The  following  extract  contains  the  particulars  of 
her  death. 


did  we 

sabbath, 

for   his 

igers  of 

ted  thee 

Should 

e  to  feel 

I  of  the 


SIX   YEARS   IN    A   MAN   OF   WAtt. 


305 


Lin ; 


and 


perience 
who  has 
hall  joy- 
r  in  the 

ne  word, 
suffering. 
;  regards 
iderings ; 
t  be  per- 
'oice.  0 
s!"  Go! 
)me  unto 
.en,  and  I 


ten,  I  have 
ith.  Peace 
I  arrive  in 
rticulars  of 


My  dear  Brother  : 

I  wrote  you  a  few  years  ago  of  the  death  of  my  dear 
sister  Fanny.  I  must  now  inform  you  that  our  dear 
mother  breathed  her  last  about  3  o'clock  m  the  afternoon 
of  the  29th  of  November.  She  wrote  me  a  letter,  dated 
the  25th,  a  few  days  before,  stating  that  she  enjoyed  toler- 
able health,  with  the  exception  of  a  cold  and  a  cough ; 
which  I  answered  on  the  29th,  the  day  she  died.  She  had 
been  out  that  afternoon  to  see  one  of  her  neighbors  for  a 
few  minutes.  She  walked  home  and  talked  with  Maria, 
my  sister,  who  was  living  with  her,  and  then  went  up 
stairs.  She  had  been  gone  but  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  whe'' 
Maria,  fearing  she  would  be  cold,  called  from  the  foot  o. 
the  stairs  and  said,  "  Mother !  come  down,  I  fear  you  will 
be  cold."  Receiving  no  answer,  she  went  up,  and,  to  her 
astonishment,  found  her  lying  half  on  and  half  off  the  bed, 
quite  dead.  She  was  so  frightened  that  she  alarmed  the 
neighbors  by  her  shrieks.  They  sent  for  a  doctor,  but  it 
was  all  in  vain.  A  neighbor  passing  by,  stepped  in  and 
helped  lay  her  on  the  bed.  They  could  not  undress  her 
until  a  jury  could  be  obtained  to  sit  on  the  body,  which 
was  not  procured  until  the  next  day.  They  brought  in  a 
verdict  of,  died  by  a  fit  of  apoplexy.  We  had  her  decently 
buried  on  the  3d  of  December,  at  Bladen,  by  the  side  of 

jny  father. 

#  #  *  *  * 

I  remain  your  aifectionate  brother, 

Nathaniel  Newman. 


4 


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